Estranged Summary and Analysis

When David arrives at the Catanze house, he discovers that the other foster children look at him differently. Even Big Larry, who had been considered a friend, is reserved before he moves out to be on his own. Gordon arrives in July of 1974. David is first excited, then realizes that Gordon isn't smiling and that there's a purpose to the visit. Gordon tells David that it's time to move. As it turns out, there's "a bigger kid" who's been assigned to the Catanze house, meaning that David has to be moved. Gordon begins the search for a new foster home and physically removes David from Lilian's arms as the two leave. David says that it's as he's leaving that he realizes that Lilian and Rudy treated him better than his own parents had.

It's only after they've left that David realizes...