What does Arnold hide and ultimately reveal in “Dance Dance Dance?

       Arnold is hiding the fact that he is poor. He believes that if people find out that he is poor, then people will not like him or respect him anymore. He is also scared that Penelope will not like him if he is poor. For the first half of his year at Reardon, Arnold does a good job of hiding the fact that he is poor. His parents are able to give him just enough money so that he would seem like a regular middle class member of the school. "I was doomed" (Alexie 123). When Arnold is invited to go to a pancake diner after the dance, he is terrified. He does not have enough money with him to pay for pancakes or anything else. He orders plenty of food at the restaurant, and tells Roger that he left his wallet at home. Roger is from a wealthy family, and gives Arnold 40 dollars. Roger suspects that Arnold is poor, and when Penelope asks him, he finally admits the truth. Arnold thinks that nobody will like him anymore, but he is wrong. Penelope cries tears of sympathy and gives him a kiss. Roger has sympathy as well and drives Arnold home. This shows that Arnold's new friends care about him.