The Perfect Summer

       When Zachary Beaver Came To Town    by Kimberly Willis Holt is about a thirteen year old boy named Toby and one life changing summer. Toby lives in Antler the, "boring-est town in the world." And he can't wait for summer. But even though school has let out Toby still has some troubles, despite the care free warm months he imagined. Among them are his best friend Cal's brother Wayne, who joined the army, whether the "amazing" Scarlet Stalling will ever like him, if his mom is ever going to come home and the self proclaimed "fattest boy in the world," Zachary Beaver.

       Toby, though he thinks of himself as normal, helps many people in small ways that add up to something greater. And the way he does this is even more impressive. For even though Toby has a lot on his mind, he manages to overcome his own feelings in order to give someone the help that they need. For example, Toby has a huge thing for Scarlet Stalling, but when her ex-boyfriend Juan comes dejectedly asking for help, he orchestrates a rendezvous between Scarlet and Juan to get them back together. I think this is because Toby recognizes that Scarlet will never like him in that way, and that she does however like Juan. Toby wants Scarlet to be happy, so he does the thing that will make her (not him) happy. Its a selfless guesture, but one Toby has resigned himself to. And because of this, he can't enjoy their happiness, he gets no reward, furthering his suspicion that life will never let him have the one chance at a perfect summer.

          Another example is Toby and Zachary. Toby and his friend Cal were pushed together with Zachary by the town Sheriff, but they began to genuinely like Zachary. Yet, Zachary has been nothing but abrupt and mean to Toby and Cal. I infer that this is because he is not used to people actually wanting to do things with him and does not know how to act around Toby and Cal, or because he suspects that they actually do not want to hang out with him, but are being forced to. Its easier to push someone away then to let them in and get hurt. Sure you might never have a real relationship but you will also never get hurt. However, despite Zachary's grumbling and insults, Toby still helps Zachary get Baptized, a lifelong goal of his. I think that Toby recognizes Zachary's fear of people actually liking him, because he has no one who ever has, his parents died. Toby wants to make Zachary see that people can be good and that Zachary isn't just a lonely freak.

           Toby also helps people in seemingly small ways,when he plays catch with the old crazy Judge, he furtively steps forward so that the Judge can catch the ball, making the Judge smile for once in a long time. Toby also writes letters to Wayne in the army, pretending to be Cal so that Wayne will get the news of home that he asks for as Cal refuses to write to Wayne. Toby sees what people need and helps them, but he cannot help himself. The one problem Toby hasn't solved is how to deal with his mothers absence.

         Toby's mom Opalina, went to Austin to win a country singing contest. Toby doesn't know how to deal with her absence, and his touchy on-edge dad. Toby doesn't know how to help himself out of the mess that is closest to home, even though he can help everyone else. This often happens with oneself, its easy to see everyone else's problems if you try hard enough, and helping them comes naturally to Toby. The problem is, he can't see his own problem, can't identify it, so he can't solve it.

           Control is a tricky thing. It is something that many desire, but it is also something you can never truly have. Life is always going to change, there are always more surprises and variables out there. The world is fraught with distrust and imperfections but its the only reason to live. Toby thinks he didn't have the perfect summer because all of his carefully controlled plans didn't work out. But what if it was? When Toby stands at the edge of the pond, sopping wet and muddy, he says "There is a rip in my pants, just where they always ripped and Mama used to fix them, and I know she never will. But when I look around and see the ways the sun looks on the water, I feel for once like I am happy."