Am looking for the underlying theme of this short story. (ie: what underlying message the author is trying to convey to the reader) I need to later include textual evidence quoted from the story.

I think that the theme has something to do with the event when Andy found his own identity- that it was not related to the 'Royals' jacket he possessed- right before he died.

Am I on the right track?

Irony is used through out the whole story. Like at the start he said that it was a "fierce rumble" and he was acting all tough because he was a royal. Then he discovered that the only reason he was jumped was because he was a royal. The he was wanting to move to a safer neighborhood because there was so much voilence. Then the last thing he wanted to do was not to associated with the Royals and his last dyeing energy was used on taking the jacket off that caused his death.

Im not sure if that really helps but yea there u go.

Well andy really didn't gain his self identity cause when the cop/ police came and picked up the jacket he said:?" a Royal huh?"
But laura knew that andy wanted to be just andy not royal

Ye Im doing the story too I think he just wanted to be a andy not aroyal so he took his jacket off and I also think he finally found out that being a gangmember is not good nomore and want to be a normal kid having a normal life like veryone else. But joining a gang is very hard to leave so Don't JOIN ONE by Howard Ly


AZIAN MAN

I like your thinking man well keep it up asian boy.

Why'd you say that to yourself

I think it is to tell the readers the darkness of the gang life
When you put on your gang jacket, it will be hard to take it off (just like for andy)
Hopefully, less people will join in