“Rough concrete pillars stood proud above the courthouse steps, looking weathered and bored, like they were tired of carrying the weight of the law on their shoulders. Just staring at the pillars made me want to rest.” 

Sam expresses the hopelessness he feels when it comes to justice and his unwillingness to accept the hard work that goes into progress. He also highlights the price paid by those who stand for justice, with the pillars being “rough” and “weathered.”

“As we walked up the path to the porch, I had an odd urge to climb onto the long slope of the roof and lie there, alone and away from everything.” 

Sam describes his instincts to retreat and avoid conflict. Since he calls his urge “odd,” he knows that it is not appropriate, and it is apparent that he is not self-aware enough to know what the instinct is really about. It is from this youthful state that Sam grows.

“Stick was always like that—stubborn and patient. A lot of things ended up going his way because I’d get bored with the fight and give in.” 

Sam again admits his tendency to give up, but he also acknowledges how patience earns Stick victories by giving him the ability to simply not give up. Yet Sam also reveals his understanding of the arbitrary nature of success in working toward progress by describing Stick’s victories as simply “things ended up going his way.”