Don’t Call Me Ishmael: Chapter 39 Summary & Analysis

Miss Tarango is more than happy to make Bill a new certificate; Ishmael tells her Bill lost his and is too embarrassed to ask for a new one. Then, as Ishmael heads for lunch, Barry asks why Ishmael looks so unhappy. Without thinking, Ishmael snaps that Barry did a “shitty” thing yesterday wrecking Bill’s certificate. Barry insists he didn’t do it, and he threatens Ishmael if Ishmael tries to accuse him of things. They argue for a minute and then Barry asks the question: if Ishmael is going to make him leave Bill alone. Ishmael knows he can’t make Barry stop. Barry isn’t afraid of anything.

Ishmael asks what Bill has ever done to Barry. Barry quips that Bill is so fat that it makes him feel ill. Bill makes the building shake, blocks his view in class, and knocks into his desk. Barry concludes by saying that he’ll continue to do whatever he wants. As Barry walks away, Ishmael feels like Barry tore one of his limbs off. The feeling doesn’t go away when Ishmael gives Bill his new certificate, or when Bill says his parents are getting it framed. Ishmael tries to tell himself things are fine now, but he can’t stop thinking of the look on Bill’s face when he opened the desk. And these days, Barry seems to be harassing Bill more often—Ishmael unwittingly turned Bill into a bigger target.

Ishmael still feels terrible a week later, when Razza asks if Ishmael will go with him to the debating finals (Ignatius and Bill are busy). Ishmael refuses, but Razza insists on hearing why Ishmael has been looking so down lately. With some convincing, Ishmael tells Razza about the certificate. Razza makes jokes, but then he notes that Barry is a “wanker” and so when Barry calls him things like “Or-arse-i-hole” or “Zit-arse,” who cares? Ishmael sees Razza’s point, but he doesn’t think it’s so easy for everyone to brush off Barry’s taunts.

Razza asks if Ishmael wants to trash Barry’s things and then notes that the Zorzottos have connections in Sicily—he can make Barry disappear. Or they can just leave some horse heads on Barry’s doorstep. Ishmael declines the offer. Razza says that in any case, he’ll back Ishmael up if Ishmael ever decides to take on Barry. Ishmael knows it’s true—Razza will be there for him. He agrees to go to the debating final and asks if this is about debating or the blond girl from Preston. Razza says he’s totally just going for the blond girl. He's the Razzman, and he needs a sidekick.