A Separate Piece #1 Summary

A Separate Piece is based upon two boys who become friends and then go through betrayal and many hardships. Both Gene and Phineas form a bond beginning with a jump into a river, and later the bond weakens with the fall from the very same tree, the fall of Phineas. Gene is responsible for this, becoming suspicious of his friend and trusting no one but himself. This non-trusting nature forces Gene to jostle the limb when is friend goes out into the tree. Gene visits Finny and attempts to resolve his guilt, but fails to do so and must leave back to Devon to continue his school year. Gene continues his year until Finny returns, where they once again form a bond and become the troublesome duo of Devon’s school grounds. These two friends continue their year with barely and bumps at all in their relationship, until another friend decides to hold court. This court looks over the accident at the tree, and turns Finny bitter against his best friend. As he attempts to leave he falls down the stairs and breaks his leg once again. Gene visits Phineas, and eventually they forgive and forget, only to result in the death of Phineas the next day. Gene finishes the year as an extension of Phineas, grateful for his many lessons on freedom and the value of life. He does not cry at his funeral, because you simply would not cry at your own.

 

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