Field Guide to the North American Teenager

Norris’s field guide entry mentions slurred speech, rudeness, and vomiting.

After a successful hockey practice, Norris leaves feeling optimistic only to discover Patrick vomiting in the parking lot. He’s been drinking for a while. Norris and Liam cannot find his phone or figure out where to take him. Patrick drunkenly mentions Liam having a mental breakdown last year. Norris asks for clarification, but Liam tells Norris to ignore Patrick. With no other option, they take Patrick to the Bone Yard, where Maddie’s sister’s wedding and reception are taking place.

Norris and Liam sneak Patrick into the back of the restaurant. Patrick is in and out of coherence, but he recognizes where they are. Maddie, dressed in her bridesmaid attire, finds them, and Norris awkwardly explains what’s happening. He introduces Maddie to Liam. Norris figured Maddie of all people might know where Patrick lives or could provide shelter while he sobers up.

Maddie leads them through the kitchen and tells Norris about the day’s family wedding drama. Patrick comments on his and Maddie’s history, but Maddie ignores him. She leads them up to Big Jim’s office. Norris places his hands on Patrick’s lower back to help him up the stairs, and Patrick calls Norris an anti-gay slur. Angry, Norris drops Patrick, who hits his head on the banister. Maddie scolds Norris because Patrick is drunk.

When they set Patrick on the couch, Norris drops him again, earning a dirty look from Liam. Maddie asks them not to let Patrick vomit on anything. She gives Patrick a “deserved” whack in the head on her way out. A caterer delivers water, food, and an empty bucket. Liam and Norris debate the ethics of taking care of Patrick because he’s a teammate versus punishing him for what he said. Patrick comes into consciousness and needs to vomit. Norris holds the bucket out of reach and scolds Patrick for using the slur, threatening to end their association and kick him from the hockey team if he says it again. Patrick agrees, and Norris gives him the bucket just in time. Norris offers to let Patrick contact his parents, but Patrick’s parents are out of town most weekends. Liam excuses himself, needing air.

Half an hour later, Liam is still gone. Maddie, Norris, and Patrick talk about Patrick’s comment. Patrick says Liam attempted to die by suicide, and Maddie tells Norris to ask Liam about it. Norris rants at Patrick for outing Liam as a “Prozac popper.” Liam comes through the door as Norris says this. He thanks Maddie for hosting and goes to wait in the car, having heard Norris’s words. Norris asks Patrick and Maddie how badly he’s messed up. Maddie tells Norris to go talk to Liam.

Norris’s field guide entry speculates on personal things Liam could reveal during this talk.

Norris goes to Liam. Maddie will take Patrick home. Norris gets in the car and apologizes. He didn’t mean to cause harm. Liam believes people often don’t mean to. Liam is disappointed that Norris learned about his past. Norris asks what happened.

Liam explains that it started with a breakup, but then he sunk into a deep depression he couldn’t escape from. His sister found him after he attempted to die by suicide because she left something at home and had come back for it. He’s now on medication. He got the semicolon tattoo to help him remember and move forward from the attempt.

Liam has tried to bounce back, but people treat him differently now. He liked that Norris didn’t know and didn’t treat him differently. He hopes Norris won’t feel obligated to remain his friend out of duty now. Norris assures Liam he won’t. Liam likes that Norris is always himself. He thinks it’s refreshing. They laugh and share a sweaty hug.

Norris’s field guide entry speculates the best- and worst-case scenarios for what Aarti’s parents will say.

Norris dresses up for dinner with Aarti’s parents, which Maddie has reassured him is boyfriend territory. Aarti thanks him for coming. Mr. Puri greets Norris and shows Norris his Harry Potter book collection, which they hide when the grandparents visit due to their belief that it’s blasphemous. Mrs. Puri calls them to dinner. She looks like an older version of Aarti. Over dinner, they talk about Norris’s parents and their professions. Aarti’s parents ask how Norris is liking Austin, and he complains about the heat that he’s beginning to adjust to.

Mrs. Puri serves them chicken tikka masala and asks about Norris’s college plans. There is tension between Aarti and her parents about the topic of post-graduation plans. Aarti expresses her desire to travel and take photographs around America. The conversation gets heated for a moment before Mr. Puri reminds everyone there’s a guest. Aarti smiles at Norris, happy she finally told her parents. They squeeze hands under the table.

Norris’s field guide entry mentions sweating and outlines good and bad things to say about a girl’s room.

Norris and Aarti drink after-dinner tea before going to Aarti’s room. Aarti’s room is small, colorful, and cluttered with magazines and trinkets. Norris says he likes Aarti’s parents. Aarti says they like him too because he’s a “model immigrant.” They both understand why Aarti’s parents wanted to meet the “new black guy at school” (261).

Norris sits awkwardly beside Aarti on her bed, where she’s made a space for him. Aarti laments that her parents were world travelers and got to see so much only to settle down and demand their daughter stay put and give them grandchildren. Aarti thanks Norris for being there when she told her parents about her dreams. Norris feels comfortable with Aarti. He wants to be her boyfriend. Aarti and Norris speculate about a future where they abandon everything else and go solve mysteries together.

Aarti points out that Norris is spending a lot of time with cheerleaders, particularly Maddie. She suggests it’s making him dimmer. Norris changes the subject to prom. Aarti mocks the idea of prom, but Norris suggests they go. Aarti tells Norris she’s not Maddie. She doesn’t go to prom with cheerleaders and jocks. Norris can tell Aarti is upset so he pulls out his notebook and allows her to thumb through his various entries detailing his sardonic and cynical views of the people of Anderson High. He knows there are hurtful things about Maddie that he wrote before they got close. He doesn’t intend to tell Aarti he doesn’t feel the same way anymore.

Aarti reads through several entries, laughing at Norris’s mean-spirited commentary. She’s reassured by Norris’s journal entries and jokes that Norris is a mean girl. Aarti still won’t go to prom with Norris, but she encourages him to go for material for his book.

Norris’s field guide entry speculates about the team’s hockey proficiency.

Liam brings new equipment and gear for the first hockey game. Everyone is excited. The team takes a moment to get their rhythm but otherwise holds their own for two scoreless rounds. Someone on the opposing team makes a comment about Black people playing hockey. When Norris confronts him, the player adds that hockey isn’t a “Black people sport.” Liam breaks it up before Norris can respond. Norris gets his revenge by embarrassing the guy with his skating prowess, causing him to fall multiple times during Norris’s impressive plays. The guy loses his temper and leaves the game. Norris stays quiet because he doesn’t want to be the Black guy that escalates things.

Norris scores the only point of the match, earning cheers from the small crowd that has come out to watch, including Meredith and Maddie. After the team wins, Maddie congratulates Norris and compliments his skating. Norris thanks her for coming, and she offers to give Norris a ride home.

On the way home, Maddie asks Norris about prom and suggests he bring Aarti. Norris fills her in on Aarti’s stance. Before Norris gets out of the car, Maddie suggests he join her group for prom instead. Norris agrees.

Norris’s field guide entry mentions formal attire, dancing, pictures, and refreshments. He speculates about the parallels between proms in movies.

Judith gives Norris advice on how to be polite to Maddie for a formal affair like the prom. Judith is proud of Norris for going to the prom and says Madison sounds nice. Norris thinks about all the other good things about Maddie and how she’s one of his only friends in America.

Patrick greets Norris at the dance and compliments his suit. Patrick plans to stay sober tonight. Norris imagines eventually being friends with Patrick. Patrick warns Norris to be kind to Maddie because she’s a sweetheart.

Maddie finds Norris and kisses his cheek. Norris thinks she looks beautiful. Maddie is glad Norris came. They hit the dance floor, where Norris finds himself loosening up. He loves to dance. He goes until Maddie drags him away and into a private area of the hallway.

Aarti texts Norris asking if he plans to show Maddie a movie, too. She asks if Maddie picked him up like Aarti always does, emphasizing how Norris doesn’t drive. Maddie notices Norris looking at his phone and asks what’s wrong with Aarti. Norris puts his phone away, deciding not to engage with her since she had the opportunity to join him but declined. Maddie is proud of Norris for being above Aarti’s mind games. She thinks dating shouldn’t be as hard as Aarti makes it. She thinks Aarti is messing with Norris’s head and points out that they still aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.

Maddie kisses Norris, startling him, but he kisses back. It feels good to kiss Maddie. Maddie has liked Norris since his interview at the Bone Yard. She never said anything because Norris liked someone else, and she didn’t want to be a thief. Norris concludes that Aarti isn’t his girlfriend after all. He asks why Maddie initiated the kiss. Maddie reminds him of his advice to be more selfish. They continue kissing.

Norris’s field guide entry mentions a lack of supervision, alcohol, and drama.

Norris’s group heads to an after-party at a golf club. Norris feels great about being with Maddie until they walk in and immediately spot Aarti and Ian aggressively making out on the dance floor. Maddie tries to stop Norris, but he confronts Aarti. Aarti calls Norris a hypocrite for being mad at her while he’s at prom with someone else. Norris rants about her complicated views on relationships. When Maddie drags Norris away, Aarti recites hurtful lines about Maddie from Norris’s field guide, revealing what he does with the journal he keeps.

Maddie comforts Norris. She pulls him into a hug, and when she pulls away, Norris realizes she swiped his journal. As Norris rushes after Maddie, he hopes she will forgive his mistake. He finds Maddie intently reading the journal at the gazebo. Maddie is hurt by the way he’s written about her and all the other cheerleaders. Norris tries to say it’s in the past, but Maddie reminds him he's still carrying the notebook with him. Maddie is upset because she feels the things Norris has written reflect his true self. Norris wonders if they do. He admits he judges people.

Maddie lectures him about how he judges people who are just trying to get by. She says Norris is just like everyone else but worse because he thinks he’s better than them. Maddie says he and Aarti deserve each other.

Meredith leads Maddie away, telling Norris to go home. Not wanting to go home, Norris sneaks into the clubhouse and steals a bottle of champagne before leaving.