During the neighborhood party thrown by the illegal numbers runners, the Captain, the head of the local unlawful lottery, criticizes the young people for failing to take control of their lives. How do the young people respond to his challenge, and when does it become clear that they have succeeded?

In Chapter 2, a lawyer asks, “Who’s Paul Williams” (29), thus revealing the name of the as-yet-unnamed narrator. What other authorities in the book ask that question and in what ways? Does Paul ask this question of himself?

At various points in the story, a lawyer, an accountant, and a numbers boss each provide services only they can give to the Action Group for little or nothing in return. Why do these businessmen show this generosity to a group of relatively naïve teenagers?