In "On the Sidewalk Bleeding," Evan Hunter describes the jacket before he gives any details about the boy except his age. Even his name, Andy, is revealed only through the lettering on the front of the jacket, which is bright purple and has "The Royals" written across the back.

The jacket Andy is wearing symbolizes membership, partisanship, and conformity. First and foremost, Andy is a member of the Royals. When Freddie and Laura see Andy lying on the sidewalk, Freddie initially seems concerned and wants to help. Then he notices the words on Andy's jacket and is immediately worried that if he does anything to help one of the Royals, he will face consequences from a rival gang, the Guardians.

Andy has been stabbed by the Guardians. As he lies dying, he wonders if they know anything about him except his membership of the rival gang, which they could ascertain from glancing at his jacket. Had their anger been directed towards him at all, or only at the jacket he was wearing? Before he dies, Andy attempts to take off the jacket, so he will simply be Andy again, rather than a Royal. Finally, he succeeds, and rolls away from the jacket. The cop who finds him dead notices the bright purple jacket on the sidewalk immediately, however:

The cop picked up the jacket and turned it over in his hands.
"A Royal, huh?" he said.

Even in death, the jacket defines Andy's identity.