Part 6, p. 120 - 133 Summary

In 1986, Ben begins secondary school, and finds himself not only in a group of students who exist and function outside the usual school activities (see "Quotes", p. 120) but a member of a gang of young men who, as time passes and as Harriet watches, become rougher and rougher. They spend a great deal of time at the house, taking advantage of the available television, the space around the large table, the food, and at one point, of the large number of bedrooms (although Harriet soon puts a stop to that). Soon Ben is spending less and less time at home, on occasion being away for days at a time, his visits often corresponding, Harriet realizes, with news of violence and/or robbery in another part of the country.

Meanwhile, David continues to pressure Harriet to sell the house. For...