The accident on the tree causes a mistrust between the two friends, which is illustrated in Genes visit to the hospital. After Finny falls off the tree he is moved to the infirmary. While he is in the infirmary healing, Gene is tearing himself apart because he feels completely responsible for what happened on the branch. After a few weeks go by Finny becomes well enough for Gene to visit him, and even asks for him specifically. Gene does end up going to the infirmary, but is surprised by Finny's behavior. Gene was excepting Finny to confront him with the accusation that Gene jousted the branch, however when Finny even mentions it, he apologizes immediately for thinking of it. This scene tells a lot about both of their characters. " 'I thought I could reach out and get a hold of you.' I flinched violently. 'To drag me down with you!' 'to grab you so I wouldn't fall'. (Knowles 65)" This quote shows clearly how Gene views their relationship, versus how Finny does. Gene is very eager to make Finny the guilty one, while Finny is saying that he believes that he could lean on Gene, and Gene could lean on him if they needed each other. Throughout the entirety of Genes visit Finny still seems playful, and like he thinks they are still great friends, however there does seem to be a lack of trust from Finny towards Gene. This is illustrated when Finny says "and when I reached out there was only air"(Knowles 65). This shows Finny saying that Gene wasn't there to hold him when he fell, which illustrates a newfound lack of trust in Finny's eyes. This seems realistic after a friend falls/is pushed off a tree while standing right next to the other friend. The day after Gene leaves, he says that Finny was not well enough to see visitors which tells the reader that there was something maleficent about Gene's visit.
Do you think this experience will change the dynamic of their relationship?
This will change Gene and Finny's relationship, because after Gene had told Finny about how he had "pushed" Finny off the branch, Gene realizes that, "I was injuring him again." (Knowles 70). Gene realizes that Finny can't accept what he has said, and that the only thing he can he can do is deny it. Gene does not even know if he did it either, he just wants it to be his fault that Finny is injured and can never play sports again. Gene and Finny will probably be a bit more distant now, because they will not want to talk about something like this to each other. They will become slightly distant, and they will still be good friends, but they will be more guarded about how they think around each other now.
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