Zak G's 3rd post TATDPTIndian, chapters "Thanksgiving" - "Reindeer Games"

I would like to first address the issue between Rowdy and Junior, I would like to know whether or not they are still friends.  Judging from the basketball game it would seem that they are definitely not friends, as elbowing someone to the back of the head doesn't exactly spell friendship, but it is true that Rowdy did not rip up the gift from Junior, which I think shows that there is still a wanting to be friends feeling with Rowdy.  Besides the whole elbow it seems like Junior has been able to make a name for himself at the school and a good one at that.  I would like to compliment the author in creating this character and really every character in this book because the characters really bring the story to life as it is fun to read and I occasional able to get a laugh out of it.  I like how he goes from nothing at home to everything at school and doesn't really let it get to his head (I am talking about Junior of course).  Help me out on this but to tie everything together it seems like a re-occurring theme in this book is perseverance, and I mean that as in no matter what is thrown at the characters in this book they always look forwards, there is not much negativity and I really enjoy that, but any thoughts on this would be helpful.