Summary of Necessary Roughness

Necessary Roughness is about a boy named Chan Jung Kim whose family had to move from L.A. to Iron River, Minnesota. Chan wasn’t happy about it and neither was his sister. Chan didn’t get alng with his father, Abogee. The reasn that they moved to Irn River, Minnesota was because Abogee’s brother, Bng, had left his general store in pursuit of a “sure way” money making scheme. He had asked them too take over, and Abogee had volunteered his family.

They packed their belngings, and were on their way to the town of Iron River. Chan often wndered why his family kept a Buddha statue. It was heavy, and not only that, but Chan’s family was Christian. Abogee thought it was something great, and it came with them on the move.

When they arrived in Irn River, they checked in with the owner of the apartment complex where Bong had lived. The man was racist, and demanded the rent that Bong had not paid before he had left. Abogee paid for it, and asked if they could have Bong’s apartment. The man refused and said he didn’t have time for any more sneaks. Abogee requested that he have his money back, but the owner ordered them to leave. He and Abogee argued, and finally the owner man handled both Chan and his father out.
They searched at another complex, where the owner told them they were full. Chan’s mother talked with the owner, and found out that perhaps the chamber of commerce could assist them with finding a home. The family drove there and discovered that an old lady named Mrs. Knutson was looking for somene to rent the upstairs of her house. Chan’s mother chatted with Mrs. Knutson, and they agreed the family would stay there.

The Irn River High School was impressive compared to the town. It was much different to Chan because it didn’t have any graffiti n the walls, and the interior was spotless. In L.A. if schools were like that that it was cnsidered a miracle. During lunch, Chan decided he would eat in the gymnasium. There were already a group of guys in there, and one asked who he was and called him a name. Another asked him if he played soccer. Chan answered he did. The guy that asked him was named Mikko, and he wanted to know if Chan was up to playing n the Irn River Miners football team as kicker. Chan told him that he would think about it. Chan didn’t think he would, for Abogee would tell him football wouldn’t help him get into college.
Chan had difficulty deciding whether he should join the team, and he talked with his sister. She said she thought he should join even if Abogee was against it. Chan made his decisin and joined the team. on his first practice, nly Mikko was friendly towards Chan. The rest ignored him, except for two of the linemen who were named Rom and Jimmi. They called Chan racist names and were always bullying him. The coaches of the team knew what they were doing. one of the coaches whose name was Kearney seemed like he belonged ion the military because of the workouts he made the team do aond also the way he talked. He always picked on a person if they performed a play wrong, or if they were lagging behind during practice.

After school Chan had to help with the store. He was in charge of the checkout counter. Abogee was not happy when Chan joined the football team.He reacted the way Chan thought he would. Chan convinced him that he could receive a scholorship through football like some other kid did. Abogee became slightly less hostile towards football.

At Chan's first football game, the team was up against Moose Creek. They lost. It wasn't the end for the Miners though.

One day after practice, Chan was in the locker room when he got a towel wrapped around his nose. He was carried and received another towel tied around his ankles. Chan tried fighting back, and he managed to kick someone, but the attackers tightened their grip and tossed him into a locker. Chan's ankle hurt like fire, but worse was he couldn't breathe. he wiggled until he loosened the towel around his face. He untied the towel around his ankles and got himself out of the locker. He was almost sure the attackers were Jimmi and Rom. He had to make up an excuse for his injured ankle to the coaches. Coach took him to a doctor. The doctor diagnosed a badly sprained ankle. Chan was grateful, for he didn't want to miss many games. The practices were even more intense since the Miners lost their first game.

Homecoming was near, and Chan was determined to win the homecoming game. The big day arrived. The game was against the Little Moon Pirates. The game went back and forth, but the Miners were winning, and Chan was going for the extra point. He waited for the snap, then began running toward the ball. A pirate line man somehow got through and crushed Chan after he kicked the ball. Chan saw the ball make its goal, but he felt like every bone in his body was snapped, and he couldn't breathe. Coach saw him writhing on the ground and called for the medics. The medics rushed onto the field and asked Chan if he could breathe. He shook his head and the medics leaned him forward. Chan sucked in breaths and realized he just got the wind knocked out of him. His ribs still throbbed, and he was taken into a doctor again. The doctor took x-rays and proclaimed he just had bruised ribs. Chan felt good enough to attend the homecoming dance, and he and Mikko hung around.

The coaches decided to hold a father-son night at the local VFW. Abogee told Chan one day that his coach had stopped in the store and talked about how well Chan was performing on the team. Chan asked if Abogee would like to go to a father-son night at the VFW. Abogee agreed it would be good, and it was settled. The night of the dinner, Abogee didn’t know what he should wear, and Chan had to help him decide what to wear. When they arrived, they were welcomed and escorted to their table by Coach Thorson. They ate, then stayed at their table while everyone else visited each other’s tables. Mikko’s dad came over and talked with Abogee, then Coach Thorson. The coaches stepped on stage and announced that they were going to hand out lettered jackets to the new players. When Chan received his, Abogee smiled for the first time in a long time.

Chan began to notice that Mikko was always asking about Chan's sister Young. He saw that Young acted different around Mikko, and Chan didn't mind them being together. The only problem was that their parents had set a rule of no dating until college. Both Young and Chan strongly disagreed with the rule. One day Abogee and Young began arguing over if Young should be allowed to date Mikko. Young ended up storming out of the room crying and Chan soothing her.

The Miner’s next game was a major one against the Moose Creek Spartans. It was the game that decided who went to the state tournament. The game was close, but the Miners won. It was Chan that scored the winning field goal.

The team’s tournament game was nearly a month away, and the Miners were training tough. Chan and Mikko were throwing a ball back and forth. Mikko was waiting for Young to stop by and watch. She didn’t show up, and Mikko decided he wanted to go home. Chan walked home and found that Young wasn’t there. He remembered she was at one of her friend’s, so he did his homework. As time went by and Chan’s parents came home, they began to worry about her. Around 7:00, a police officer came by and told the family that Young and her friend lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. The officer explained to them that Young died, but her friend was in the hospital. Chan couldn’t believe that his sister was dead. Chan had difficulty attending the funeral. Bong came back and attended it, as well as other family members. Bong left almost immediately after. Coach Thorson stopped by and took Chan to the town’s café. He attempted to talk to Chan. Once Chan started talking, he couldn’t stop. He told Thorson everything, including the truth about the incident in the locker room. Thorson asked if Chan knew who did it. Chan was reluctant, but he finally gave in and told Thorson who he suspected.

Chan arrived home from school one day and found Abogee kneeling in front of the Buddha statue. He explained to Chan that he wanted Young to have a safe passage.
Chan came back to practice, and he found that Rom was gone, but not Jimmi. Jimmi talked to Chan in the locker room and explained that he wasn’t one of the people who tossed Chan into the locker. He claimed that he was in on it, but backed out when Rom announced what he and his friends were going to do to Chan. Everyone knew what had happened to Young, and Jimmi started to finally be friendly towards Chan.
Chan had doubts about the Miners winning the Championship since they didn’t have Rom. The big day arrived, and the team was ready. The Miners won, and Chan visited the grave yard after the game. He laid the trophy on the grave. Just then, it began snowing, and Chan sat and watched his first snow next to his sister.