Chapter Twenty-Two Summary: Swimming and Wordplay
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Later the same day, Aristotle (Ari) and Dante go swimming and start a splashing war, which Ari privately suspects is a way to accidentally touch each other. Walking back to Dante’s house, Dante complains about school and the pretence of looking up to teachers as if they are smarter. Their conversation shifts to the words they each use when annoyed: Dante says “annoying,” while Ari says “pisses me off.” Fascinated, Dante repeats the phrase and nudges Ari’s shoulder. Ari observes that Dante loves fancy words like “interminable” and “liminal,” yet also enjoys cussing—a combination Ari finds interesting. When Dante asks whether it’s better to be interesting or handsome, Ari assures him the two aren’t mutually exclusive and adds that Dante is also charming. Ari then reflects privately that Dante could charm the pants off him, and acknowledges his own “dirty mind,” believing this will send him to hell.
Key Events
- Ari and Dante go swimming and engage in a splashing war, using the physical play as an excuse to touch each other.
- During the walk home, Dante expresses frustration about school and the expectation to view teachers as superior.
- The two discuss their differing vocabulary for annoyance: Dante says “annoying” while Ari says “pisses me off.”
- Dante becomes excited by Ari’s phrasing and nudges him with his shoulder.
- Ari points out that Dante is both a walking dictionary and a cusser, which makes him interesting.
- Dante asks whether it’s better to be interesting or handsome, and Ari replies that the two are not mutually exclusive; he also calls Dante handsome and charming.
- Ari internally imagines that Dante could “charm the pants right off of me” and feels guilty for his sexual thoughts, concluding he is going to hell.
Character Development
Aristotle Mendoza: Ari reveals a self-aware, playful side that contrasts with his usual brooding demeanor. He is comfortable enough with Dante to joke about words and to admit Dante’s attractiveness. His internal reaction—imagining Dante charming the pants off him and feeling guilty—shows Ari’s growing awareness of his sexual desires and his internal conflict between those feelings and his religious or moral upbringing.
Dante Quintana: Dante’s curiosity about language and his delight in Ari’s “pisses me off” shows his appreciation for authenticity. He is comfortable in his own skin, unashamed of his vocabulary or his teasing. Dante’s question about being interesting versus handsome reveals a need for reassurance, but Ari’s compliment visibly pleases him. He remains playful and affectionate, nudging Ari’s shoulder and laughing.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Vocabulary as Identity: The chapter contrasts Ari’s plain, direct words (“pisses me off”) with Dante’s more refined lexicon (“interminable,” “liminal”). Their exchange highlights how language choices reflect personality and background, and how each boy is drawn to the other’s way of speaking.
- Playful Physical Intimacy: The splashing war in the lake and the shoulder nudge are deliberate, safe ways for the boys to touch each other. Ari’s suspicion that the splashing is an excuse for accidental contact underscores the underlying physical attraction between them.
- Internal Conflict and Shame: Ari’s thought about having a “dirty mind” and going to hell signals his struggle to accept his attraction to Dante. This motif of self-judgment recurs throughout the novel as Ari wrestles with his identity.
Why This Chapter Matters
This short, playful chapter crystallizes the growing romantic and emotional intimacy between Ari and Dante. It is the first time Ari explicitly acknowledges his sexual attraction to Dante (“charm the pants right off of me”) and then immediately punishes himself with guilt. The chapter also deepens their friendship through shared laughter and wordplay, showing how their contrasting personalities complement each other. It sets the stage for later confrontations between Ari’s desires and his internalized shame.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Ari think the splashing war is a pretext for touching?
Ari believes the splashing war gives them a plausible excuse to accidentally touch each other while playing. This reveals his awareness that he wants physical contact with Dante and that he uses the roughhousing as a cover to satisfy that desire without having to acknowledge it openly. -
What does the conversation about “annoying” vs “pisses me off” reveal about each character?
Dante chooses the milder, more polite word “annoying,” which Ari says is typical of Dante’s vocabulary. Ari uses the stronger, more blunt phrase “pisses me off,” reflecting his direct, less filtered manner. Dante’s excitement at hearing Ari’s phrase shows his fascination with Ari’s authenticity, and the exchange highlights how each boy influences the other’s language. -
How does Ari react internally after calling Dante handsome and charming?
Ari immediately thinks of the sexual double meaning of “charm the pants off” and imagines Dante doing exactly that. He then calls himself “dirty minded” and expects to go to hell for such thoughts. This reaction shows the guilt and shame Ari associates with his attraction to Dante, a conflict that will need to be resolved as the story continues.
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