In the Castle of My Skin

When school lets out early for both boys and girls, parents begin to worry. The all-girls school is told that fights are breaking out in the city and that it might spill into the villages. The villagers worry because they don’t have any official news as to what’s really happening. Moreover, they aren’t accustomed to dealing with the troubles that often arise in the city. Due to the tense atmosphere, shops remain closed and almost everyone goes home. Mr. Foster goes to the guardhouse to get information but returns with news that the guardhouse isn’t manned, meaning the village isn’t being protected by the police. This revelation confirms the villagers’ fears. Everyone rushes home and awaits the possible fighting.

Bob’s father and Mr. Foster go back and forth between their houses to ask for information or speculate on what’s happening. Meanwhile, Trumper and Bob slip out of Bob’s house and rush to the city. Pa comes out and angrily suggests that Mr. Foster and the others speak to Mr. Slime. “If the fight did spread to the village, Mr. Slime was the only man who could stop it.