Chapter 7: The Burning Bush Summary and Analysis

IN stark contrast to the Finches, Deirdre becomes friends with the Stewart family, particularly Fern Stewart, a local minister's wife. At dinner in the Stewart house, Augusten observes the normalcy as somewhat unsettling. Though he feels somewhat jealous, he realizes that he feels much more at home with people like the Finches.

While at the Finch house, Augusten acquires a small, closet-like room of his own, symbolizing his growing comfort with the family. He also skips school with increasing frequency, which Dr. Finch fails to rebuke; Dr. Finch believes that rules ought to be more subjective.

One day, while skipping school and stopping back at his mother's house, he catches his mother making love with Fern Stewart. In shame, Fern quickly leaves the house. His mother, however, becomes angry at the intrusion. She makes a...