College Boy : A Novel (9781416586500) by Omar (COR) Tyree

concept of thinking, not guessing what something is. See, you have to get this college stuff in detail, or the test questions will kill you,” Troy explained. “We all should know by now that they don’t put no easy questions on the tests. Most of them damn questions are just to fool you. But anyway, what is the bystander effect?” he asked.
    â€œThat’s when you stand by and watch something,” Peter answered.
    Troy tried not to laugh. Matthew held in his laughter as well.
    â€œYou almost have it,” Troy told Peter. “The bystander effect is the tendency of a person to help someone in need less, if someone else is present that doesn’t help. What’s an attitude?” he asked, continuing.
    â€œOh, I know this one. That’s an easy one. It’s when you make certain assumptions about something,” Peter answered.
    Troy no longer found it amusing. “No, that’s when you have a personal like or dislike reasoning for a certain stimulus. What is a conditioned response?”
    â€œThat’s when you do something without knowing.”
    â€œNo, it’s a trained response to a given stimulus.”
    Matthew began to chuckle again as it neared time for dinner. “Ay’, Peter, it doesn’t sound like you know anything, man,” he said.
    â€œIt’s not that I don’t know it. I just have to get it in detail.”
    Troy frowned. “Ay’, look, Pete, after dinner I’m gon’ come to your crib so we can study together, ’cause you need help, cuz. Now it’s getting late, so let’s roll out to dinner.”
    Peter hesitated. “Aah, I’m gon’ get with you later, Troy. I still gotta read three chapters.”
    Matthew cracked up, but Troy was angered.
    â€œYou haven’t read the chapters yet?” Troy shouted. “Man, this test is on nine chapters. You gon’ tell me the night before the test that you still gotta read three? What the fuck you been doin’, man? What you think college is, a joke or some shit?”
    Matthew stopped laughing. “Yo, Troy, you act like you’re the one in trouble,” he said with a smile, trying to lighten things up.
    â€œYeah, well, you call me up as soon as you finish those chapters,” Troy said to Peter, almost ignoring Matthew’s comment.
    â€œYeah, OK, then. I only have three more chapters to go.”
    Â 
    After dinner, Troy eyed Doc standing next to the the soda machine in the lobby again. He noticed that Doc was an expensive dresser—brand-name clothing. He wore a red Polo jacket, a Gucci hat, Timberland shoes, and blue Calvin Klein jeans.
    â€œYo, Troy. Come here, man,” Doc called, motioning with his hand.
    Troy walked over to him. “What’s up with that voice? That shit gives me the chills every time I hear it,” he said. “But what’s going on with you, cuz?”
    They sat on a nearby bench. Doc smiled and stared into Troy’s smooth, brown face. “Remember that girl in the party with the blue leather jacket that I was talking to?” he asked.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œShe said she likes you. She wants to go to the theater with you this weekend.”
    â€œThe what?” Troy responded.
    â€œThe the—,” Doc repeated, stopping himself before he finished. “The movies, man.”
    â€œWell, why didn’t you say so in the first place?” Troy teased. “ ‘The theater’. Ha ha ha. What’s wrong with y’all in this city?”
    â€œSo what’s up, man?” Doc asked, pressing the issue. “You want me to hook it up, or what?”
    â€œYeah, hook it up, cuz. That babe was a freak.”
    Doc was confused. “She’s not nasty, man. She’s a nice girl,” he said.
    â€œWhat?” Troy asked, smiling. “I meant that she looks good, not that she’s nasty.”
    â€œOh, OK. I’ll hook it up, then,” Doc assured