Chapter 30 Summary

Palmer invites Dorothy to his tenth birthday party; but she decides not to attend at the last minute leaving Palmer to celebrate with Beans, Mutto, and Harold. Beans is especially interested in Palmer's father's experience at the Pigeon Shoot and Palmer has a hard time imagining his father with a rifle killing the helpless birds. After the party, Palmer, Beans, Mutto, and Harold go in search of Farquar but the administrator of The Treatment is nowhere to be found today.

Later that night, Palmer plays quietly with Nipper and goes to the kitchen to get a piece of birthday cake. Palmer catches his breath when he sees the word "Tonight" written in the cake's icing.

Chapter 30 Analysis

Palmer is surprised that Dorothy does not attend his party. Yet the bigger surprise is his own mother's absence, leaving his father in charge while she...