My Life with the Walter Boys

Jackie wakes from another nightmare and goes downstairs to get a glass of warm milk. When she reaches the bottom of the stairs, she sees the glow of the television screen, so she walks to the living room. A crime show is playing softly on the screen, a bag of chips on the table, but the room is empty. Jackie instinctively knows that it must be Danny, who is naturally withdrawn and introverted.

In art class that week, Riley and Heather continue to pepper Jackie with questions about the Walter boys. Jackie avoids answering most of the questions, citing that they only have a few minutes to finish the project they have barely started. Heather suggests that they finish the project at the Walter house that weekend and have a sleepover. Jackie is elated at this idea, eager to cement her position in the friend group.

Katherine agrees to let Jackie have the girls over that weekend, and when Jackie goes downstairs later that day to thank her, she overhears Lee complaining that Jackie has only been with them for a week and is already allowed to have friends over. Lee’s statement hurts Jackie, reminding her that this is not her home and she will “never fit in” (105).