Chapter 28 Summary

One night after dinner Beans, Mutto, and Henry arrive at Palmer's house to take him to wringer school. Palmer blanches at the mention of the word, but accompanies the boys to the soccer field where wringer instruction is about to begin. The wringmaster instructs the boys on the operations of the Pigeon Shoot and cautions them about their responsibilities on the big day. The instructor produces a stuffed gray sock and lets each boy practice wringing the neck of this imaginary pigeon. Palmer takes his turn with the sock-bird, throws it down in disgust, and stomps off the soccer field.

Chapter 28 Analysis

In keeping with his love of word play, the author uses a play on the word "ringmaster" when he calls the wringer instructor a "wringmaster." This is an appropriate term given the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the Pigeon Shoot and the weeks...