Though Martel refers to what he runs as an “organization,” the book soon reveals that he’s running a gang. For Quan, it doesn’t seem like much of a choice to join. The gang will give him structure and people to support him—things he hasn’t been able to find anywhere else since Ms. Mays and Daddy left years ago. In this way, it’s bittersweet that Martel has the same diffuser as Ms. Mays. Given that readers already know that Quan will soon end up in prison due to his dealings with Martel’s gang, the diffuser shows that this support is just a lie.