What is Tom’s “compensation” for the “trial” of having his tooth pulled? What does this tell you about the nature of Tom's peers?

Tom was compensated for his loss of a tooth by finding an entirely new way to spit. Tom's peers are boys who like that kind of thing.

But all trials bring their compensations. As Tom wended to school after breakfast, he was the envy of every boy he met because the gap in his upper row of teeth enabled him to expectorate in a new and admirable way.