One theme found in the story of "Don't Be Disrespecting Me" is respect. The story is about two boys named Erin and Noodles, who are living in poor condition and everyone around them is making fun of them because they don't fit in due to their old clothes that they wear. Noodles is a hustler to women, by getting them to buy him anything he wants but Erin just wanted to fit in. Noodles is all bout respect and his full of pride, in the story Erin is talking to Ona and Noodles bump into him Erin says " Man. Ain't you got no manners?" Noodles wanted to fight Erin right then and there. He didn't like being embarrassed. but he kept his hand to his side ' cause Erin was his boy" (pg.86).
Noodles isn't the type of guy who wouldn't forgive and forget, he some how has a score to settle, even if it is his best friend Erin. Erin tells Noodles what happens when Erin went to go talk to Ona parents and when Noodles is hearing this, he feels disrespected that Ona parents treated Erin with little respect. Noodles then come up with the idea to trash and rob Ona place then right before the dance Erin and Noodle are going to jail breaking and entering some one home, but Noodles didn't care all he cared about was getting respect.
I think you are exactly right when you say Noodle "somehow has a score to settle." It's like he constantly feels he needs to prove his self-respect.
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