Mr. Cooper - the BBQ dad

With this blog post it feels right to reflect more on Benji and Reggie’s dad. “To Prevent Flare-ups” is the first chapter where his character is fully portrayed, and we see the way his presence changes how the brothers live. Before he comes out to Sag Harbor, Dr. Cooper is a looming presence, constantly in the background. This chapter is a literal case study on their Dad’s effect on the household; his presence dictates how the chapter is structured and how the plot proceeds. The moment Benji wakes up he is hyper aware of miniscule noises within the house; who is awake, where they are, what they’re doing. And the sound of the alcohol cabinet dictates the pace of the rest of the chapter. On a broad level, this atmosphere with their dad in it is juxtaposed with how Benji and Reggie usually live. The casual in-and-out, careless tone of their days is gone, replaced by this incredible tension and anxiety. Reggie chooses to abandon the scene altogether, working every weekend shift, while Benji is hoping to escape with Bobby, as early in the day as possible.

As the chapter progresses, the neighborhood perception of Dr. Cooper as the popular grilling dad is revealed. People come by to say hello and visit as he cooks, and we hear that Benji’s friends think his dad is cool, saying things like “Mr. Cooper makes the best barbeque” and “He’s a real pistol,” (Whitehead 184-185). It seems like they don’t know anything deeper about the Cooper family dynamics, indicating that Benji doesn’t take the shield down, even around his arguably closest friends. Benji’s focus on outward appearance is shown from the first line of the chapter, “We were a Cosby family, good on paper,” (Whitehead 160). Indeed, as people come to the house and chat with Mr. Cooper, there is a total disconnect between the dad in his head and the man at the grill. Benji works to preserve this public image, out of either fear or perceived obligation. 

We didn’t get all the way into the mix of emotions Benji has towards his dad during class, but those are also highlighted in this chapter. Combined with the fear and negative emotions surrounding Mr. Cooper is a sense of respect from Benji. He craves attention from his father, and acknowledges the work that went into building this comfortable life for himself and his family. As readers we get insight into the way Mr. Cooper treats his family; it seems possible he has their best interests at heart. However, we also see the way his actions affect the others and create a toxic environment for Benji and Reggie to grow up in. One of the scarce times Benji has his Dad’s attention is during a haircut, but it’s not an enjoyable ordeal for either of them; it seems like it’s always long overdue and very stressful for Benji. Throughout the chapter readers can feel Mr. Cooper tottering on the edge, and this depiction of the uncertainty and pressure on a single weekend is representative of Benji's entire life.

Whitehead, Colson. Sag Harbor. Doubleday, 2009.