Quarter 2: Week 5, Post B

"'...and what about those ten kids who died?'
Jordan knew better, but he still heard himself asking Peter a question. 'Why do you phrase it that way?'
'What way?'
'The ten kids who died. As if it was a natural progression.'
Peter's brow wrinkled. 'Because it was.'
'How?'
'It's like those explosives I guess. Once you light the fuse, either you destroy the bomb before it goes off...or the bomb destroys everything else.'
'But who struck the match Peter?'
Peter lifted his face. 'Who didn't?'" (252).

This quote really intrigues me. Peter clearly holds a very different view towards the shooting than most other people of the community. His comparison of himself to a bomb is especially interesting. Instead of seeing the shooting as a deliberate murder, Peter sees himself as a ticking bomb, as if it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. He also makes it clear that the blame should not be placed so hastily on him alone. Peter must think that the fault lies with everyone who has ever teased him because it was the relentless teasing that led him to the point of murder. I found Peter's opinion on the school shooting very curious and it twisted my thoughts on the book.