Summary

In Chapter 3, “Back to School,” Barber wakes his son up from a nightmare on the first day the students are to go back to school after the murder. Both students and parents are surprised by the huge police presence at the school. Barber notes that Jacob has the hint of a smile on his face and interprets it as Jacob’s pleasure that the normal routine of the school has been interrupted.

The mothers discuss the way they kept their kids from violence and guns just to have them exposed to the murder of a schoolmate. Laurie makes the comment that she believes there is not much a parent can do to influence their child’s outcome. The parents discuss how badly the Rifkins must be feeling and try to determine if any of them knew Ben any better than any of...