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#5 What does Arnold hide and ultimately reveal in “Dance Dance Dance?” What does he learn? Be sure to discuss the final sentence on page 129. (Aris B.)

In “Dance Dance Dance”, Junior hides his poverty from Penelope and the rest of his classmates, but he reveals this to Penelope and Roger and learns that it's okay to open yourself up to your friends. After the Winter Formal, Junior, Penelope, and Roger and his friends decide to drive to a diner and eat pancakes. Junior hopes that Penelope's dad, Earl, doesn’t let her go because Junior knows that he will not be able to pay for it. While the group is eating pancakes, Junior goes to the bathroom where Roger eventually enters. Junior tells Roger that he forgot his wallet, while Roger thinks that Junior is poor. When Penelope confronts him about this, he admits to her that he is poor, but he is surprised when Penelope doesn’t care about his money, and Roger drives him home. When Junior realizes it, he says, “If you let people into your life, a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing” (Alexie 129). When Junior sees his friends’ reaction to his confession, he sees that he can open up to people, and talk to them about his feelings. Junior finally realizes that he isn’t alone, and has people who worry and care for him.

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