Returning to School

Mrs. Barbour insists Theo return to school to establish a routine. The experience is horrible; the familiar hallways and faces are now a painful reminder of his old life. People offer awkward condolences, while others, like his former friend Tom Cable, avoid him entirely. Theo is consumed by a quiet, seething rage, blaming Cable for the suspension that led to his mother being at the museum. He is also subjected to well-meaning but intrusive counseling from teachers and the school psychiatrist, which he resents.