Chapter 2, Uncool (pgs. 37-47) Summary and Analysis

Toby and his mother move into a converted attic in a small, musty boarding house in West Seattle. In the evenings, they go for walks and fantasize about buying the most beautiful houses on the block. They thumb their noses at rundown houses, even though living in a rundown house that they own would be better than where they live.

Phil owns the boarding house. Phil doesn't like kids and only allows Toby to live there, because Toby's mother promises that Toby won't bring other kids around. Phil is badly burned from a warehouse fire. Toby assumes Phil doesn't like him, but Phil makes a point of touching Toby every time he walks by. Toby believes Phil does this to make himself feel worse.

Toby's mother is one of three women in the house. Kathy...