Reality Boy

Jacko, a man at Gerald’s boxing gym, picks a fight with Gerald. Gerald tells him he will not fight because he knows that when he does, he may end up killing him. Jacko makes physical contact, making a fight impossible to ignore. Gerald spars with Jacko, dodging his punches. Eventually, a trainer steps in to interrupt the fight. Instead of finishing his workout, Gerald leaves.

To avoid getting into a deeper conflict with Jacko, Gerald avoids the gym and has his dad install a punching bag in the garage. After school the next day, he heads to work to find Beth in a low mood. Beth tries to get him to switch registers, but he insists on staying, much to her aggravation. Since he likes Beth, he continues to do his job well with help from his crush. Hannah reveals that she does not like to switch registers either. She and Gerald bond momentarily on this shared trait.

One day, Nichols comes to antagonize Gerald for beer once again, but Beth steps in to ask for his ID, which scares him away. Throughout the rest of the workday, Gerald catches