S.E. Hinton's novel That Was Then, This is Now shows the dynamics of life. It discusses the incredible bond between two friends, Bryon and Mark, when they were young boys growing up. This bond is met with challenges as the boys grow up and grow apart.

Randy is a hippie who gives the boys a ride to the hospital to visit Mrs. Douglas, Bryon's mother. Since his parents' unfortunate deaths, Mark has also been living in the Douglas homestead, with Mrs. Douglas being the mother figure in his life.

Randy is one of the characters in That Was Then, This is Now who also appeared in another of S.E. Hinton's novels, The Outsiders. There, he appeared as one of the more sympathetic Socs who cared about his less privileged peers.

During the ride to the hospital, Randy speaks to the boys about his education background. He was an English major in college. He also informs the boys that he lives with his colleagues in a communal living set-up. As he drops the boys off, he lifts up two of his fingers and says, "peace."

Randy gave the boys a ride. However, he also gave them something more important during the ride: a life lesson. His character reflects important values, such as humility and self-sacrifice. He attended college and majored in English. He was also a member of the Socs gang. However, he is compassionate enough to recognize the plight of the less fortunate of his peers. He is also agreeable to communal living, with people who share his values of peace and harmony.

His talk to the boys is a kind of guidance for them. They are in a society where they have very few role models. Randy, despite being a former gang member, gives the boys a lesson on the importance of peace, harmony, and empathy for the less privileged.