How does Charlie show confidence in Bryon in That Was Then, This is Now?
Charlie is a 22-year old bar owner who allows Bryon and Mark to shoot pool at his place even though it's against the law for minors to patronize it. Charlie allows the two boys to run a tab for Coca-Colas and hustle pool inside, although he warns them about the dangers their game. One day, Bryon asks Charlie for a job. Charlie tells him no, but adds that "I'd trust you with my wife, if I had one. I trust your actions..." So, Bryon tried for "a shot in the dark."
"O.K.," I said. "If you trust me so much why don't you let me borrow your car Saturday night?"
"O.K., Bryon... Just bring it back with as much gas in the tank as there was when you took it.
I almost fell off the barstool.
Bryon used it to take Cathy Carlson out to the school dance where,...
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later, Mark was beaned by a bottle meant for Ponyboy Curtis.
Why does Bryon respect Charlie in "That Was Then, This Is Now"?
Bryon respects Charlie for a multitude of reasons. Bryon knows that Charlie is a tough individual who has a reputation of being a good fighter and knows better than to get on Charlie's bad side. Bryon also views Charlie as a friend. He respects the fact that Charlie grew up in a rough neighborhood like he did and that he read just as much. Even the police respected Charlie and he had the ability to add "quicker than a machine." When Charlie allows Bryon to borrow his car, Bryon is extremely excited, but can't find the words to thank him. Later on in the novel, Bryon and Mark are in a precarious situation after hustling a some men from Texas at billiards. The Texans stick up Bryon and Mark in a nearby alley outside of Charlie's bar, and Charlie comes to their rescue. Unfortunately, Charlie gets shot and dies during the incident. Bryon is upset and depressed that his good friend Charlie lost his life saving them. Bryon not only respects Charlie for graciously allowing him to borrow his car, but also for saving his life. Bryon knows that Charlie's life was on an upswing after receiving the information that he was excused from the draft, and Bryon feels terrible that Carlie's life was cut short.
Although Charlie is only 22 years old, he owns a bar, which has a pool table. Because Bryon has no father and Mark is an orphan, both boys look see Charlie as their mentor; he more of a father figure than a big brother. Charlie is also the older brother of a former girlfriend of Bryon. Charlie is kind to the boys, treating them to sodas and letting them hang around the bar. Seeing Charlie as cool, tough, and successful, Bryon aspires to be like him. The teenager also sees it as positive that Charlie does not prevent him and Mark from hustling the pool-playing customers, although he encourages them to use better judgment. This situation changes when two of them attack the boys and Charlie intervenes, giving his own life in the process. After that Bryon realizes that he not only owes his life to Charlie, but starts to see the limits to the lifestyle he had been cultivating.