1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
Or perhaps - crowd gathers to see Johnny get his butt kicked for the fifth time that year. Mark has been an abusive bully for the last decade. Johnny finally graduates and gets away, Mark ends up abusing his wife.
1958 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
Or perhaps - Jeffrey decides he had with this crap and drops out.
1958 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
Or perhaps - Pedro has to go to work to support his family in Mexico, he never does learn english, and spends his life picking fruit and washing dishes.
I really hate that whole 'Leave it to Beaver' idealistic view of the 50's that glurge like this loves to indulge in. The 50's were not a happy time of perfect nuclear families, they were as screwed up as any other decade, but no one was ever allowed to talk about it.
Lets do one from the other side.
1958 - A black family is harassed and finally driven out of the nice neighborhood. Everyone turns a blind eye.
2008 - A black family moves into a nice neighborhood and . . . nothing happens other then the neighbors say hi. |
