Cal is good at manipulating kids. They are young, rebel against their parents, and who better to have as a friend than someone that really understands what they're going through. He somewhat does know what they are going through though. In fact he is one of the few adults out there that just might really get them. He has changed himself to knowing what is best for him. He sets out to do that with this same idea in mind for all of his kids. Especially with Donny. Cal was focused on changing Donny’s way of thinking to his own. One of the Times when Donny’s mom went over to Cal’s house She heard loud music playing. “Once it was The Who, which Daisy had recognized from the time Donny had borrowed the album”(5). Cal had given Donny a record that he had obviously played enough times for Daisy to know it’s name. He is sharing music tastes that Donny hadn’t previously had. Making more and more of an impact on his life further securing his position with Donny. Not to mention the fact that Donny even began to use phrases Cal likely said himself. “‘You’re just feeling competitive’ he said ‘And controlling’”(5). Donny would never say that to his mom before cal. Not to say he didn’t back talk, but competitive and controlling were words that did not match his personality or way of speaking. They had to come from an outside force. Somebody that had enough of an influence on him to entirely change his manner of speaking. He feels good when he repeats these things that Cal says because it makes him feel more like the very person that is ‘helping’ him. He knows he can’t get in trouble for saying these things because Cal said these to him so how could anybody be mad at him for just reiterating what his tutor said? This is why Donny thinks he can get away with anything.
Cal almost lets Donny do about anything and when it is time to face the school or his his parents he protects him. Shields him from any of the blame and pulls the feelings above all actions card every single time. “I think this kid is hurting, you know?”(4). he begins by being one of the only ones that cares for Donny’s feelings and ends up only caring about Donny’s feelings. He is blinded by the fact that Donny sometimes just does bad things and makes excuses. “‘What was the boy’s name?’ Daisy asked ‘Huh’ ‘Mrs. Cobble, take my word this situation is not so unusual’--’Frankly’ said Cal ‘I wouldn't be too surprised if the school was in on it’”(7). Donny was clearly lying to his mother to Cal to his whole school but nonetheless Cal still fought for him. He never held Donny accountable for his actions meaning there were no consequences for doing anything bad or against the rules. Donny had no reason, no force to will him from acting out in unjust ways. At the end Cal was a practically acting as a lawyer to get him out of anything. I know that these types of people want to defend you after hearing all of the troubling things in your past. Most people pay them a lot of money for them to help them get through their day to day lives. When an opportunity arises for them to help you out they will take it. If not because they care for you than because they want you to feel even more comfortable with them than you already are. Cal needed to stop thinking of Donny’s feelings and the money he could get out of Donny’s parents and teach him that not only he matters, but everybody on this planet does too.