The Reformatory: A Novel

The following day, Robbie sees a crestfallen Cleo at the cafeteria. Robbie asks him what happened, but Crutcher and Mrs. Hamilton break the news to him instead: Redbone has died. He was killed in the Box after getting into a fight with Cleo, who happened to have been armed. Redbone’s burial is scheduled for that day. Mrs. Hamilton tries to reassure Robbie that Redbone’s death was not in vain and that he sacrificed his life to protect Robbie. She encourages him to play the trumpet well enough at his burial so that Redbone’s spirit can hear his grief.

As Robbie picks up the trumpet to practice, a key falls out, evidently the one planted by Blue to access Haddock’s drawer. Robbie is furious with Blue but focuses on playing. Crutcher and Boone come to stop him because of the effect it has on the other boys. Mrs. Hamilton defends Robbie, and Robbie eventually speaks up for Hank and the victims of the fire. Boone reminds Robbie of the burial details. Robbie resolves to steal the photographs and the haint jar, not for Blue, but for Redbone.

Robbie attends Redbone’s burial with his bunkmates. Crutcher leads the service. After digging an unmarked grave, they lower the casket, and each says a few words about Redbone. Robbie remembers Redbone as his best friend. He then plays a memorial dirge for Redbone, after which he is buried. Robbie is upset that none of Redbone’s family has been informed and brought over to join the ceremony. When the other boys leave, Robbie apologizes to Redbone for what happened. Blue arrives to declare himself Robbie’s new best friend.

Blue follows Robbie to the cafeteria, but Robbie is still furious with Blue. Blue indicates that it will take time for Redbone to appear as a haint—if he hasn’t already moved on. He tells Robbie to go ahead and trap Hank where he found him and then go into Haddock’s drawer while Blue distracts him. Blue confirms that Uncle June has already cut a hole in the fence, so Robbie can push through with his escape.

Later that night, Robbie sees Redbone’s haint in a dream. Redbone encourages him to tell the world the truth about the Reformatory. He also wants Robbie to trust Blue as a best friend because he is the strongest ally Robbie has for freeing himself and the haints. Robbie promises to trust Blue as his dream ends.

On Friday morning, Miz Lottie picks up Gloria from Mrs. Hamilton’s house. Gloria rushes to pack her things and write a thank you note for her host. As they drive off, Miz Lottie informs Gloria that the police have apprehended Uncle June and Waymon for vagrancy. Although Uncle June succeeded in preparing Robbie’s escape route, he and Waymon will be unable to help that day. Gloria is anxious to execute the plan, especially after Miz Lottie encourages her and Robbie to make the journey to Chicago without her. Gloria packs Robbie’s things for the journey and then helps out around Miz Lottie’s house one last time.

That afternoon, Robbie and Boone trap Hank. Robbie then goes to the locker room to steal a satchel, per Blue’s instructions. Opening his own locker, Robbie finds a sketch of Redbone drawn by one of their bunkmates, Owl. He packs it in the satchel. He also packs the jar of Vaseline in his pocket. Blue signals that he has started a fire in the kitchen to distract Haddock.

Robbie goes to the administration building and sneaks past Doris’s window just as she is informing Haddock about the fire. Right on cue, Haddock leaves, reminding Doris to be discreet about the fire. Robbie opens the screen on Haddock’s window, climbs in, and retrieves the key from his boot. Robbie uses the key on a secret drawer that contains a large envelope and the haint jar. He slips them into his satchel and leaves Haddock’s office. Outside, he covers himself in petroleum jelly and then starts moving toward the Funhouse.

Robbie bumps into Crutcher outside the campus shed and tells him that he is tracking haints with Boone’s permission. He claims that the Vaseline is meant to draw the haints to him, and Crutcher believes him. Robbie reaches the Funhouse and has some trouble finding the opening in the nearby fence. Fearing that Blue has betrayed him once again, Robbie calls Blue for help, but then Blue arrives to show him the opening. He promises to watch over Robbie when he leaves the Reformatory. Robbie runs through the cornfield.

Haddock investigates the kitchen fire. Boone and the groundskeepers work together to put out the flames. Boone reports that all but one boy made it out unharmed and that he will investigate the cause of the fire.

Haddock asks the injured boy, Turner, what happened, and Turner reports that the fire jumped at him when he tried to quell it with a towel. Haddock then asks Kendrick, the boy in charge of the stoves, what happened, and Kendrick reports that the stoves came on by themselves. Haddock is skeptical, but then he and the other boys realize that a haint started the fire. Worried that Clint Newsome has escaped from the haint jar, Haddock calls for Robbie. Crutcher reports seeing him, covered in grease, by the shed.

Haunted by Redbone’s death and the lack of consequences for those involved, Mrs. Hamilton doubts her decision to volunteer at the Reformatory. Crutcher comes to her, confessing that he had been to the campus shed to investigate the rumor that Haddock had raped a boy there. He had seen a bloody mattress and chains and is wracked with guilt over the most recent boy he took there. Mrs. Hamilton suggests that they leave the Reformatory, but Crutcher tells her that they should wait until the latest commotion has died down. He has been tasked with finding Robbie and realizes in retrospect that Robbie has run away.