…So, um, you're from Rochester? Like, New York?" Jersey asked. "Yup, we used to live out there," Rudger confirmed, nonchalant. "You ever been?" "Naw, the closest I've ever been to there would be… well, believe it or not, New Jersey, the place where my parents named me after. It was crowded, polluted and full of crime… I loved it.
In a conversation between characters Jersey and Rudger, they discuss the latter's past in Rochester, New York. Rudger casually confirms his background, prompting Jersey to share his own connections to New Jersey, a place that shaped his identity. Despite its negative aspects, Jersey expresses a fondness for New Jersey, highlighting its bustling and chaotic environment.
This exchange illustrates a common theme in literature where characters reflect on their origins and how these experiences influence their perspectives. The contrast between Rudger's calm demeanor and Jersey's nostalgic attachment to a tumultuous background showcases the complexity of personal history.