changes in Sonny...

Sonny experiences changes throughout the story.  He learns some French, he dislikes Cloyd more and more as the days pass, he loses his virginity, he falls for Nica and he majorly improves his bowling skills.  The reason he learned French was to put up a front to Cloyd that he really wants to go to Notre Dame.  Since day one, he's been playing with Cloyd's mind and now they don't really even like eachother.  The only one holding the two of them together is Sylvia and her feelings toward Cloyd changed as well.  He loses his virginity because, well the girl isn't the classiest person on the planet and Sonny is a normal teenage boy whose hormones control his actions every once in a while.  That's another change, Sonny begins to act with his mind instead of his body.  He ends up falling for the girl nextdoor, but not for what she's willing to give.  He likes her because of her personality, her looks, the way she speaks, her shyness, and her secure bubble that she's used to.  He wants to take her out and show her new things, like pizza and bowling.  Most of all, he wants to show her how to love and be loved.  I think the two of them relate because of their culture, where they live, their age, and also they both have stepfathers.  Sonny can view Nica as a mother figure because she takes care of Angel.  It shows that she is responsible and home when Angel needs her, unlike Sylvia in Sonny's case.  Sylvia goes out and does what she wants, and it teaches Sonny to do the same.  Sonny likes to walk the streets, eat American food, crack jokes and go bowling.  He spends much time at the bowling alley when things aren't going quite right at home.  It's his getaway time, and along the way he learns to be a great bowler, son, lover and friend.