The Middle Five · Chapter
Little Bob explained
After being punished by Graybeard for neglecting his arithmetic, Frank stays after school to complete his work.
What happens
After being punished by Graybeard for neglecting his arithmetic, Frank stays after school to complete his work. He is interrupted by a chase between a little boy and a larger boy, and Frank intervenes, getting into a fight. He later learns the little boy is Robert Brown (Little Bob), son of Ne-ma-ha, a poor and disgraced former priest. Frank befriends Little Bob, who becomes his devoted follower, and together with Brush, Edwin, Warren, and Lester they form the gang known as 'the Middle Five.'
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Loyalty
Frank defends Little Bob despite not knowing him, and Little Bob becomes a loyal follower, forming the core of 'the Middle Five' gang.
Education and Discipline
Frank is punished by being kept after school for neglecting his arithmetic, reflecting the strict discipline of the mission school.
Family and Community
Little Bob's father Ne-ma-ha is a poor, disgraced former priest, illustrating the impact of family status and community roles on individuals.
Characters to notice
- Me
Narrator who stays after school for punishment, fights a larger boy to protect Little Bob, and later befriends him.
- Graybeard
Teacher who punishes Frank by making him stay after school to finish his arithmetic.
- Brush
Member of 'the Middle Five' gang who lingers to keep Frank company after school.
- Edwin M. Stanton
Member of 'the Middle Five' gang who lingers to keep Frank company after school.
- Robert Brown
Little Bob, the small boy Frank protects; son of Ne-ma-ha, becomes Frank's devoted follower.
- Lester
Member of 'the Middle Five' gang.
Key passages
“Graybeard tapped his bell; we put away our books, folded our arms, and when there was silence the teacher spoke: 'Frank will remain here until he finishes correctly the sum he is working on.'”
The teacher rang the bell to signal the end of the afternoon session, and after the class settled down, he announced that Frank had to stay after school to complete his arithmetic problem.
Describes the punishment for neglecting schoolwork.
“I put it on my slate, compared it with the answer left me by Graybeard, found it correct, and my work was done.”
Frank solved the math problem, checked his answer against the teacher's, and was finally finished.
Frank completes his punishment.
“The little boy ran around the stove, then toward me and got behind me. The big boy pushed on in his vengeful pursuit, and reached to grasp the object of his anger when I struck at him with my fist.”
The small boy hid behind Frank, and when the larger boy tried to grab him, Frank punched the attacker.
Frank intervenes to protect Little Bob.
“From this time on the lad was always near me, and gradually became my devoted follower.”
After that day, Little Bob stayed close to Frank and became his loyal companion.
Little Bob's loyalty to Frank is established.