A Separate Peace

When he returns to campus, Gene wants only to see Finny. He discovers Finny in the midst of a snowball fight. Gene has no doubt that Finny organized the fight. Finny, now in a walking cast but still moving awkwardly, recruits Gene for his side, asking casually about Leper. Gene responds vaguely and joins in. Eventually, the fight breaks down into a mess of snowball launching, regardless of team loyalties. Finally, the entire group “ended the fight in the only way possible; all of us turned on Phineas” (171). Later, Gene thinks to ask whether it was wise for Finny to be participating in snowball fights with his leg, and Finny waves him off, saying that Dr. Stanpole just told him not to break it again. He claims that since a broken bone is supposedly stronger after healing, his leg feels even sturdier than it was.

Later, Brinker stops by after dinner and asks Gene about Leper. Gene tells them that Leper went AWOL and that he is different than “the little rabbit we used to know” (171). Brinker presses, asking if Leper left because “he panicked” (171), adding that “he must be out of his mind […] to do a thing like that” (171).