Grady and James: Father/Son Relationship?

In my next paper I want to focus on the relationship between Grady Tripp and James Leer.

“. . . I saw that the boy was still sitting there, at the back of the classroom, in the empty circle. I knew I ought to say something to console him—the workshop had been hard on him—and he seemed to want to hear the sound of my voice; but I was in a hurry to get to the airport and irritated with him for being such a spook all the time, and so I only said good-bye to him and started out the door.” (pg 6)

I want to explore the idea that Grady felt like he owed something to James—almost like he wanted to make things better for James and help him out to prove to himself that he could be a good father to his and Sarah’s baby. Grady really did take James Leer under his wing. He stopped him from maybe committing suicide, he took him when he visited his wife’s family for Passover, he helped him escape from his parents’ house, etc.

He made mistakes with James, but he tried hard to rectify them. He really worried about the welfare of his student, and I feel like he grew because James grew.
My paper would outline their escapades and conversations, and would try to prove or argue that Grady saw James as more than the average student who needs help finding himself. Grady put a lot of effort into helping James Leer realize his life was worth something. My paper would also show that their relationship was mutually beneficial. James Leer caused Grady to finally grow-up and to make choices that affected somebody else’s life in a positive way.

I think that his dealings with James helped him take on the role of father for his own kid at the end of the book. He needed to know that he could do it, and that some young person could trust him and admire him. James Leer did this for him.

(maybe I will do something with the fact that Crabtree published James Leer as a replacement for Grady--I feel like there's something in that aspect of the story. I just don't know what yet . . .)