Gretchen is in a situation anyone would take to the authorities, but there is a sticking point to Gretchen’s disclosures: her father is extremely strict and may kill her if the truth about what he has done is revealed. This puts Cal in a tough spot; he must expose the truth without really telling anyone. It is a tightrope he must walk. After Cal contacts several people that would normally help those in need, Cal finds no solutions and comes to the conclusion that any solution to Gretchen's problems will have to be on his terms.I don't really know how I feel about this, I know Gretchen is in a sticky situation but I feel like Cal should have involved at least one adult. I would have. I would have to one of my family members. Cal begins to form a plan to frame Gretchen’s father. While at his job, he will steal liquor in an attempt to later plant in her father’s car and crash it into the front of his the grocery store where he is employed. This will lead the police to the Lutterman house and question the father. This plan hits a big snag when his alcohol theft is discovered by his boss. As result, his plan will have to wait until he is done serving thirty days in the state workhouse. In the meantime, his whole world is falling apart around him—Lola dumps him, he will not graduate, his reputation is shattered, his family has lost faith in him and Gretchen is losing hope. The worst part of Cal’s imprisonment is that his father has passed away.Before he is done serving his time he finally puts his plan in motion. Upon his release from the workhouse he learns that Gretchen’s father has been arrested for the crime and stabbing a policeman. This is excellent news for Cal, however this won’t put Mr. Lutterman in jail for very long—the truth about the dead baby must be revealed. At the trial, Cal is called as a witness. Cal does not do well on the witness stand until Gretchen’s mother breaks down and explains that there was a child through Gretchen and her father and that it was killed by Mr. Lutterman. Mr. Lutterman does get what he deserves and is sentenced to prison. Cal ends up sacrificing so much, but he saves a life and corrects the wrong in Gretchens life. For this reason I believe what he did was right. I think that committing a crime to save another person is okay. He did everything for a good reason, it was not unjustified. He faced a huge struggle and a very difficult situation and I think he handled it to the best of his ability. Despite his intention being in the right place, Gretchen’s issue was not solved in conventional ways. We all have had experiences that don’t have conventional solutions, however I found Cal’s plan a bit short-sighted in its execution and believability. His plan does not seem realistic. I don't know very many teenagers or adults for that mater, that would risk their entire world for a friend.
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