Summary

In Chapter 1, Jim Greer, Luke Ellis’ guidance counselor at Broderick School for Exceptional Children met with Luke’s parents, Herbert and Eileen Ellis, to tell them Luke, twelve, was ready for college-level work. He described how one of the emeritus teachers, Mr. Flint, had been teaching Luke the history of the Balkans. Flint compared his experience with Luke to the experience that the Jewish elders must have when Jesus was brought to them as a child.

Greer told Luke’s parents that Luke was not only smart in all subjects, he was also well-adjusted. He said that Luke wanted to major in engineering at MIT and English at Emerson. He explained that Luke was unhappy and frustrated in his present situation. Though Herbert was not aware of Luke’s frustration, Eileen was. She sensed it was Luke’s frustration that...