Chapter 9 Summary

Since his father's disappearance, Christopher has been careful not to let his mother out of his sight; for fear that the same fate should befall her. He does not understand why the other adults have done nothing to protect her. Uncle Philip is the only other person he trusts her safety with.

One sunny day, the atmosphere in Christopher's house is cheerful for the first time in a long time. Hearing his mother laugh in her old way, Christopher lets down his guard. He is tempted by Uncle Philip's promise to buy a piano accordion and allows his mother to be alone in the house. After they leave his mother, Uncle Phillip takes Christopher to a strange part of town and abandons him. When Christopher finally finds his way home, he finds that his mother has been kidnapped.

Chapter 9 Analysis

Christopher is afraid...