Ernest Hemingway's "The Truth"

"The truth" that Gene mentions at the end of chapter 3 of A Separate Peace is the fact that Gene doesn't think of Finny as his friend, where as Finny says Gene is his best friend. A real friend would never endanger another friend. On page 33, Gene says"Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me. I wouldn't have been on that damn limb except for him. I wouldn't have turned around, and so lost my balance, if he hadn't been there." It was Finny that encouraged Gene to jump off the branch after him. If he hadn't caught Gene in time after scaring him, even Finny would never had been able to talk his way out of explaining how a fellow student died. Friends also consult with each other when a matter is about both of them. On page 34, Gene explains that, "We began to meet every night to initiate them. The Charter Members, he and I, had to open every meeting by jumping ourselves. This was the first of many rules which Finny created without notice during the summer. I hated it." Finny took charge of the club and decided that he could make what ever rules he wanted just because he was the first to jump. He never bothers to tell Gene these changes even though he is co-charter member. He should have discussed them with Gene before hand, and asked for his opinion.