17. Thomas Kennedy: Lakota Quiets, Gabriel's New Life
⚠️ 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
The chapter picks up after Gabriel Fisher has left for college. The town of Lakota quickly sheds its media circus, returning to the quiet rhythms of pickup trucks and Amish buggies. Thomas Kennedy welcomes the peace. A proposal to erect a "Birthplace of Gabriel Fisher" sign is soundly defeated, with town supervisors wisely arguing Gabriel deserves room to grow up. Billy Walton redecorates his bar in Wisconsin Badgers colors, and Coach Beathard marries Merryn Mouglalis on the fifty-yard line during the bye week.
Through a stream of emails, Gabriel shares his college life with Thomas. Overwhelmed at first by campus size and classwork, he takes comfort in football, where his size lets him dominate even when he makes mistakes. His extroverted roommate, Colt Bender, drags him to parties, where Gabriel discovers Jell-O shots and poses for countless selfies. At one party he meets Isabella—Bella—a tiny, vibrant woman who pulls him onto the dance floor and later walks and talks with him through the night. They share a deep, intimate conversation about their pasts, and she kisses him before sunrise. Gabriel’s feelings for Bella consume him; he asks Thomas about love. Thomas, reflecting on his own failed marriage, admits he may never have been fully vulnerable, but he offers tender, fatherly advice to enjoy the moment and be careful.
Gabriel sets weight-room records in the bench press and squat. In his first game, a 63–0 rout, he pancakes opponents despite a rocky start, but his one disappointment is missing the chance to see the opposing team’s peregrine falcon up close.
Key Events
- Lakota’s celebrity fades; the town rejects a highway sign honoring Gabriel.
- Billy Walton repaints Shaken, Not Stirred in Badgers colors to reflect Gabriel’s college, while Coach Beathard weds Merryn on the football field.
- Gabriel emails Thomas frequently, detailing his initial overwhelm, the comfort of football, and his roommate Colt Bender.
- At a house party, Gabriel meets Isabella (Bella); they dance, walk, talk deeply, and share a first kiss.
- Gabriel asks Thomas what love feels like; Thomas introspects and offers cautious, parental wisdom.
- Gabriel sets Wisconsin freshman records in the bench press (670 lbs) and squat (900+ lbs).
- In his first game, Gabriel plays in the second half, dominates, but regrets not seeing the peregrine falcon.
Character Development
- Thomas Kennedy serves as the reflective ear for Gabriel’s transformation. His uncertainty about his own capacity for love adds a layer of bittersweet wisdom. He loves Gabriel “like a son” and must navigate the line between friend and father figure.
- Gabriel Fisher shifts from a sheltered farm boy to a college student navigating alcohol, romance, and national attention. His emotional letters reveal vulnerability—a sharp contrast to his physical dominance. His curiosity about the falcon shows a lingering innocence.
- Isabella is portrayed as warm, curious, and unafraid of Gabriel’s size; she draws out his story and becomes his first deep romantic connection.
- Colt Bender provides comic relief and social momentum, pulling Gabriel into a world of parties and selfies, yet his friendship makes Gabriel feel less conspicuous.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The Return to Quiet: Lakota’s peace after the media frenzy symbolizes the town’s protective, grounded nature—it refuses to prematurely deify Gabriel.
- Love as a Vulnerable Unknown: Both Thomas and Gabriel grapple with defining love. Thomas’s imagery of water lapping different shores emphasizes its individual, unforced nature.
- The Peregrine Falcon: The raptor that Gabriel misses seeing represents the wild, untouchable things he still craves beyond football. Colt’s dismissal (“Get your game face on”) highlights the tension between his gentle curiosity and the demands of his athlete persona.
- Letters as Lifelines: Gabriel’s emails and the missed late-night phone calls show the thread of connection holding him to home, even as Isabella and college widen his world.
- Physical Might vs. Emotional Tenderfoot: Gabriel shatters weight-room records yet feels nervous on a dance floor; his ceiling-tile mishap and flustered movements underline his gentle nature behind the giant frame.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 19 recenters the narrative on Thomas Kennedy, reinforcing his role as the story’s emotional anchor. It captures the quiet domestic aftermath of Gabriel’s departure and contrasts it with the roaring chaos of freshman life. Most crucially, it introduces Isabella and Gabriel’s first love—a turning point that deepens Gabriel’s character beyond the “giant” trope. Thomas’s introspective answer about love adds a mature, melancholy counterpoint, preparing readers for future complications. The falcon motif subtly hints at desires that remain just out of reach, planting seeds for later longing.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does the Lakota town board vote against a sign honoring Gabriel Fisher?
Supervisor Nelson objects that Gabriel is “just a kid” and should be allowed to grow up without such a heavy public label. The vote shows the community’s protective caution, valuing his humanity over premature celebrity. -
How does Thomas’s reflection on his own marriage influence his advice to Gabriel about love?
Thomas doubts whether he ever truly loved Angela, wondering if he held part of himself back. This uncertainty leads him to avoid prescribing what love should feel like; instead, he tells Gabriel to enjoy what he has, warning that youth is brief, and encourages him to practice safety if intimacy occurs. -
What does Gabriel’s disappointment over the peregrine falcon reveal about his character?
Despite his athletic achievements and social attention, Gabriel still yearns for simple, quiet wonders—like seeing a wild bird up close. His roommate’s reprimand to focus on football underscores the pressure to conform to his “giant” role, while his regret shows he remains deeply curious and sensitive.