Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Tick is in art class at Empire Falls High. Mrs. Roderigue, her art teacher, is a very structured woman believing, apparently, that creativity flows from regimented order. Mrs. Roderique assigns students to various worktables distinguished by the names of colors. There are no actual representative colors at the tables, but students are expected to remember which table has been named Blue, which one Red, etc. Candace Burke, a complete airhead, is Tick's neighbor at the Blue Table. Complete opposites, Tick is a fast-track student who is taking art because she likes art while Candace is a low achiever who takes art because it a class that is impossible to fail. Candace has stolen an Exacto knife occupying her time in class openly carving the name of her current boyfriend, Bobby, in the back of her chair. The theft of the Exacto...