Chapter 3

Summary

• The chapter opens with a sense of unrest at the protagonist's school, as rumors spread about a woman found beaten by the lake.
• The protagonist describes her struggle to understand and connect with her students, describing them as a species in transition, going through significant changes physically and emotionally.
• While trying to conduct her class, the protagonist overhears snippets of conversations that lead her to believe someone has been arrested.
• The protagonist worries that her past in journalism might be catching up with her, fearing she could be arrested for libel because of an article she had written in the past.
• One student, Theo Burton, had previously submitted a disturbing writing that made her worry. She fears he may be linked to the beaten woman due to the terrifying nature of his writing.
• However, her fear temporarily subsides when Theo Burton walks into the class and tells everyone that the cops are in the front office, suggesting that he isn't the one arrested.
• The protagonist reflects on her first day of teaching and how she shared with her students that she used to be a journalist thinking that would give her some authority. This turned out to be a mistake, as a student named Izzy used this information to undermine her authority.
• Interrupting her thoughts, the assistant principal requests her over the speaker system to come to the office, where the police are.
• The protagonist is anxious, thinking that she is about to be arrested.
• As the protagonist prepares to go to the office, Izzy tells her that the school's coach Cobb has been arrested for assault, not her.
• This revelation causes the protagonist to feel a mixture of relief and residual shock.