Outside Reading

Lorraine continues to find some hope, finding her son's sneaker tracks in the desert (13). Either this is redeeming her hope that he is alive, or her denial, trying to pretend he is still alive. The tracks in the desert also might hint that she is being desperate and delusional, as the tracks might not even actually be there. The Parents still have discontent for the investigators, as they can't get anything done. Meanwhile, Wendy Whitebread is shown again, comic books galore (14). This shows that Neville can put his past behind him, and just live another leisurely life by himself and other unrestricted youths. This, of course, is just begging for trouble.

Outside Reading

It has been extremely hot, a "hundred and five for the ninety-ninth straight day" (7). That's what Newell thinks, and the 99 days of heat probably stands for the days he has been missing. He also seems to have been used to the fact that he couldn't find his parents. Newell, Kenny and Beiderbixxe, the cartoonist, meet at a Saturday talk in a comics store called Amazin’ Stories, where Beiderbixxe has come to discuss his illustrated series, “Wendy Whitebread, Undercover Slut” (8). He is part of a group of mischievous guys. The adult themes have already been made in this book, behind the dirty comic "Wendy White-bread, Undercover Slut." This shows what people end up viewing away from their parents authority. A child who ended up without their parents was dragged into this, and might end up in a deeper hole, just like in real life. However, he seems to have adapted quite well to his environment, and has found a residence with a group of others. The gang of kids is definitely up to no good.

Outside Reading: Beautiful Children

We are introduced to the Ewing family. Lincoln Ewing and Lorraine Ewing are distraught by the fact that their twelve-year-old child is missing. They have to acknowledge the fact that "nobody can say how long a child will be missing" (Bock 5). It seems to make sense that parents would be worried, but the fact that they question hope means that they don't really see much that would come out of the situation now. Lincoln Ewing searched endlessly for leads that would help find his son, Newell, but was unsuccessful. Thus he pondered "What was left of his son? What did he have?" (Bock 6).