A List of Cages

Julian is the narrator of this chapter, and it takes place in his Physical Science class with his teacher, Miss West. Julian notices that she stares at nothing and snaps at a student viciously when he asks to see the nurse.

After class ends, Julian approaches Miss West and asks her if she is okay. Miss West starts to cry. She tells Julian that today is her dead son's birthday. Julian pulls out a tissue from the tissue box and hands it to her. Julian tells Miss West that he believes her son is okay. Miss West agrees with him, and she tells Julian that she believes that each person has a mission in life, and nobody dies until that mission is completed. She says she understands that her son's mission was complete.

This chapter is narrated from Adam’s point of view as he drives to Charlie’s house to pick him up to attend a laser tag game. When Charlie gets in the car, he starts complaining about how Adam has been with Emerald every second for the past two weeks, and that he and Adam never get to hang out together alone anymore. At first Adam laughs, but then he tells Charlie he's right, so he asks Charlie to pick out a restaurant for them. Adam wiggles his eyebrows "suggestively" indicating Charlie might like him more than just a friend, and Charlie punches him in the bicep (48). Charlie also complains about Julian tagging along with them again as they drive to pick up Julian.

When they arrive at Julian's house, he's waiting on the corner under a tree. Charlie tells Adam that standing underneath a tree like that is strange, and Charlie points this out as a confirmation that Julian is weird. Adam defends Julian stating that Julian is just being polite by waiting outside. Charlie scowls at Julian as he climbs in the van, and Adam tries to foil Charlie's scorn by smacking his shoulder with the back of his hand.

Adam is sitting by his mother at home watching T.V. as he narrates this chapter. Adam tells his mother, Catherine, that Julian gets sick with the flu a lot. Catherine opens the cabinet and takes out some home remedies and asks Adam to take them to Julian. Adam goes to Julian's house to take the remedies, and Russell answers the door. Russell asks Adam why he's interested in being friends with Julian since Adam is a senior. He says that he doesn't want Julian mixed up with the wrong people. Russell says that Julian “‘needs friends his own age. Apparently, so do you,’”; Russell then thrusts the bag of remedies in Adam's chest and slams the door in his face (155).

The scene of the chapter now shifts, and Adam is at Emeralds' house, talking about his conversation with Russell. Emerald suggests that maybe Russell didn't want him to come in because the house is messy, but Adam feels there is something more to his behavior than just that. Emerald's mother is spending a week with her boyfriend, Rusty, and Emerald asks Adam to stay over because “‘it's too quiet at night’” for her (156). 

Julian narrates the first part of this chapter, which describes the argument between Julian and Russell. Russell starts the argument by questioning Julian about breaking his rule about not to letting people in the house. Julian says Adam came in the house, but he told Adam to leave. Russell then asks if he should call the police on Adam, and Julian says no. Russell chides Julian, saying that if Julian told Adam to leave, then Julian knew Adam wasn't supposed to be in the house. When Julian responds that he doesn't know, Russell picks up the conch shell and smashes Julian's face until it bleeds. This is the first time he has hit Julian in the face. Then Russell gets in his car and drives away. Julian gets on his bike and rides to his old house where he once lived with his parents. Brittany sees him and calls Adam. Adam drives over to the house and picks up Julian, who is bloody and visibly injured. When Julian admits Russell caused the injuries, Adam picks up the phone to call the police, but Julian begs him not to. Julian tells Adam that Russell has to let him live in the house, and he knows that it is hard for Russell to be around him.

Adam begins his narration as he’s arguing with Emerald. Emerald thinks that Adam shouldn't call the police if Julian doesn't want him to. She brings up the point that calling the police might make things worse for Julian, and Adam does remember his mother telling him stories that this can happen, so in the end, Adam doesn't call. Emerald and Adam clean off Julian’s wounds. Emerald and Adam sleep on separate beds on opposite sides of Julian as they watch over him until he goes back home.