Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, antisemitism, and religious discrimination. 

Mark approaches his teacher, Mr. McDonald, and asks if he thinks children are exactly like their parents. Mr. McDonald answers that while children do inherit many of their parents’ traits, they usually do something completely different with them. Additionally, “bad” parents can raise “good” kids and vice versa. Mark asks if he thinks Pol Pot or Hitler could have a child that wasn’t evil, and Mr. McDonald answers that he thinks that’s possible. Mark’s most difficult question comes when he asks how a person can ever know they’re right, and Mr. McDonald isn’t sure how to answer. He suggests Mark talk to the priest instead.

Mark sits on the bus and dreads the upcoming weekend, knowing he will have to wait to hear more of the story. He tries to talk to his friend, Bonzo, about everything he’s been thinking, but Bonzo doesn’t seem to understand and thinks it would be fun to join the army. Mark wishes he had the courage to ask Anna and Tracey to come over to his house, but he can’t bring himself to do it.