The Fourth Stall

In a strong sense, Mac’s entire business operation—and by extension, much of his identity as this point in his life—is predicated on trust. Mac operates on the presumption that no one in the entire student body will tell on him; because so many need his services, he has an inherent faith that his secret is protected. He must maintain a much deeper but more tenuous trust, ironically, in those who are closer to him personally and serve as the guts of his business: his partner Vince, his “heavy,” Joe, and anyone else whom he hires along the way for special tasks, like Tyrell, Brady, and the bullies. These individuals are the ones who can do the most damage if they decide to turn. Mac’s fear of betrayal by his inner circle grows so strong after Vince admits taking some petty cash that his focus shifts to protecting the business itself and not the individuals he initially intended to benefit. This mistake almost costs him his best friend.

Ultimately, though, Mac discovers that Fred is the one sharing crucial information with the opposing side, which teaches Mac a valuable lesson about loyalty, trust, and friendship, as he tells Vince:

I just didn’t trust anyone anymore, not even myself. And I guess sometimes I lost sight of the fact that this business has always been about you and me, not the money at all. It has never mattered how much money we made, not even for a Cubs World Series game. But I’m not going to make those mistakes again (278-79).

Mac has the chance after defeating Staples to “reboot” his business with his newly-gained wisdom, and he demonstrates a calmer, more reflective set of decisions in repaying the bullies handsomely (thereby strengthening the trust between them) and bringing Fred on officially (initiating a relationship build on loyalty instead of one based on betrayal).

Staples, conversely, operates his gambling ring on a system of bribes and threats. He exacts “loyalty” from his bookies, customers, and henchmen by letting everyone know how they will suffer if they turn on him or rat him out. Mac, Vince, and Joe see this as they hear from Fred, Ears, Brady, the seventh grader Justin sends to beat up Mac, and eventually even PJ, Staples’s right-hand man. When PJ resists coming to the Yard near the climactic scene, Staples threatens what PJ holds most dear: “Just remember who pays for your car’s upgrades and your girlfriend’s necklaces and stuff, right?” (287). Though PJ shows up, he eventually deserts Staples, demonstrating how Staples’s brand of “teamwork” is less effective than Mac’s.