Summary

In Chapter 8, Bobby began to cry when Carol asked him what was wrong. She pulled him into a copse of trees. He told her everything about his mother, Ted, and the low men. Bobby feared that Carol would not believe him, but she said she had seen the strange hopscotch grids also.

As Bobby and Carol walked home, they were confronted by Bill “Willie” Shearman, Harry Doolin, and Richie O’Meara. Carol complimented Willie because she had seen him make a good catch in baseball, but Willie responded hatefully. One of the boys pulled Carol’s ponytail hard enough to make her scream. Harry slapped Bobby. Willie had his fist raised to hit Bobby when Rionda ended the fight by threatening to contact the boys’ parents. Both Bobby and Carol told Rionda the boys were not bothering them...