Dear Martin: Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

Six weeks after Manny’s death, his parents invite Justyce over for dinner. They tell him they want to “commemorate” the indictment of Garrett Tison. Still, though, Justyce feels uncomfortable about going to his dead best friend’s house. When he arrives, Mr. Rivers and Mrs. Rivers seat him at the table and serve his favorite meal. They ask him questions about how he’s faring in the aftermath of the attack. Eventually, they tell him that their nephew, Quan Banks, heard what happened and wants to see him. Quan is in juvenile detention for killing Officer Castillo, and he has asked the Rivers to tell Justyce that he wants him to visit. Quan and Justyce went to elementary school together, but Justyce can’t fathom why he would want to talk to him. Nonetheless, he agrees to visit.

Before Justyce leaves, the Rivers give him a watch they were going to give to Manny on his eighteenth birthday. It’s an expensive heirloom that used to belong to Manny’s grandfather, and it has Manny’s initials carved into the underside of the watch face. Justyce feels too overwhelmed to accept it, but he puts it on his wrist anyway.