That was Then Synopsis

            That was then, this is now is a novel written by S.E Hinton. It’s a good novel which easy reading words so the reader can get the message easily. The setting is in America, but doesn’t clear enough what city it is. It’s only mentioned as a big city, even not as big as New York. The characters are; Bryon, Mark, Cathy, M & M (James), Charlie, Ponyboy, Tim, Curly, Mike, Bryon’s mom & Cathy’s parent. The theme of his novel is Teenagers’ life in America with their own trouble; friendship, love, violence & faith.

The story begin when Mark & Bryon was 16 years old and run their teenager’s life. They were friend from 8 years before. They are so close & like brothers. Mark moved to Bryon’s house when he was 9 years old, after his parent killed each other in a fight (it’s Mark’s version, nobody knows what really happened that night). Bryon always spends his time to be with Mark, except in the school, because they avoid meeting in the school with unknown reason. Mark has a bad behave and attitude which influence Bryon. They often go to Charlie’s bar to having some beers even they are still sixteen and they could be caught if some cops find them in that place. They like fighting and sometime they smoke grass. And behind Bryon, Mark sells some drugs to the kids.

Everything changes when Bryon met Cathy and dating her. It makes mark a little bit jealous, because since they were dating Bryon seems to be very close with Cathy and keep away from him. Mark hates Cathy, and Cathy hates Mark as well. It makes Bryon feels terrible, really confused why the two cannot be a friend even just a while. Then, the break point is when M & M, he’s Cathy’s brother run away from home for some weeks and makes Cathy very worry about him. Bryon & Cathy always look for him but cannot find him until Mark tell Bryon where he probably in. Bryon & Cathy go to that place which called as “hippie-house” or “free of law house”. They find M & M there; he’s in an awful bad condition. He’s sick & drunk because some of LSD. They take him to the hospital, doctor helps him but he cannot guarantee that M & M could be as good as before. He may lose his mind forever; his attitude, his behave before. He’ll changes 100%! It makes Cathy very sad, and of course Bryon as well.

It had been some weeks that Bryon didn’t see Mark, because he was so busy in looking for M & M with Cathy. Bryon finds a number of drugs in Mark’s bed. It’s too much if Mark only uses it for himself. Then he figures out that this is the way Mark gets some money for him mom and their daily need. He feels so terrible, so angry, so disappointed. He hates what Mark does to make money, because he remembers M & M who’s get into the hospital because that kind of drugs, he also remembers how Cathy really worry about M & M’s condition. Then, Bryon decides one important step of his life which will change and affect a whole his relationships. He calls the cops and tells everything about Mark. Mark was caught an hour later and get in to the jail. Mark doesn’t know why Bryon does that to him. He really disappointed, he hates Bryon, the one who were like brother for him. He tells about his feeling to Bryon when Bryon come to see him in the jail, also he swears that he won’t see him again even he’s free 5 years later.

After all these bad things, Bryon decided to won’t see Cathy anymore and forget her as well. He lost 2 persons who he loves best. Finally. his whole life changes. He seems to have a new life without Mark either Cathy. That was then, this is now. Everything changes, because nothing last forever. And life’s about choices; true and false, bright side and dark side, love and hate, come and leave, and so on.