Title Justification Paper #2

The Other Wes Moore is split into three different parts that each contains a collection of chapters. The second part of the book is called Choices and Second Chances and includes the chapters "Marking Territory," "Lost," and "Hunted." In “ Marking Territory” the negative choices that both of the boys made are shown. The second chances that they were given were shown in chapter two, “Lost”, and the final chapter shows what both boys did with these second chances. The reason why this part is called “Choices and Second Chances” is because in this part of the novel, both boys start to determine their very different fates by choosing different life choices and different ways of using their second chances.

         The outcome of both Weses’s futures depend on the life decisions they make in this part of the novel. In the first chapter, the Other Wes has already made some bad life decisions, “ In addition to the knife fight when he was younger, Wes had been arrested a few years back for stealing a car.” These choices have already affected the Other Wes’s life. The Other Wes also got into the drug game even though his brother warned him saying, “ If you won’t listen, that’s on you.” At that moment the Other Wes had the option of leaving the drug game but he decided to stay in it even though he knew of the potential consequences. Wes also made some crucial life decisions during this part of the novel.  When Wes got caught for “tagging” a wall with spray paint the police officer said to him “You kids are way too young to be in this situation. But you know what, I see kids like you here every day. If you don't get smart, I'm certain I will see you again. That's the sad part.” This made Wes question what he was doing and made him realize that he needed this second chance in order to stay out of trouble for good. Although he promised himself he would be good for his mother, he was back at spray painting within the next week. Wes was just trying to figure out how to make his mom proud of him. Even though his grades were slipping, he hadn’t gotten into serious trouble like the Other Wes Moore.

Overall, Wes and Other Wes both have a hard time making the right decisions in order to keep them out of trouble. By not getting enough attention from their hard working mothers, both boys easily slip into bad situations where they have the choice between right and wrong. Sadly so far, both Weses have taken second chances and thrown them away as they gravitate back towards the crime scene.