A Summers Reading

Why don't George and "the guys hanging out on the candy store corner" recognize each other?

In Bernard Malamud's "A summer's reading", George likes the fact that his neighbors are beginning to threat him differently because they believe he is spending his time reading. It is as is their new found appraisal of him boosts his confidence. No longer is he just a twenty years old man who lives with his father a sister above a butcher's shop but rather he has the potential to be somebody. George and the guys on the store did not recognize each other because they always had an impression of George as a shy and silent guy that do not believe himself; however, after George's discovery, finally realize he was a man "different", sure about himself and his capacity.

George and "the guys hanging out on the candy store corner" recognize each other because they were meeting after a very long time, since after 5 years they were meeting so they don't recognize each other.