Summary

Part II is titled The Jailhouse of School. Chapter 8 is titled “Called to the Trough of Knowledge.” Charlie and Russell meet before school behind the boys' outhouse. They stand in tall weeds as they smoke a length of buggy whip. Russell and Charlie are early for school, but Tansy arrived even earlier. She is wearing a new hat. Russell sees a mystery in that hat which appeared “in a fancy box.” Tansy thanked O.C. for the gift. Russell had seen a look pass between Tansy and her father, and no one said anything else about it. Though O.C. drives Tansy to school in the wagon, Russell and Lloyd choose to walk rather than “turning up at school alongside the teacher” (80). Russell and Charlie see others arriving at school. Russell assures Charlie the bell will not ring, meaning Tansy will have to...