A List of Cages

Adam begins narrating the beginning of this chapter as he gives Charlie a ride after school. Charlie complains about Julian riding with them again, and Adam tells Charlie if he has a problem with Julian, he doesn't have to ride with them. Charlie gets angry and looks at Adam with "high-level betrayal" (176).

Julian's narrative begins the week back from spring break, when Adam asks Julian his typical question as he's escorting Julian to Dr. Whitlock's office: "'Anything interesting happen today?'" (176). Julian tells Adam he's having problems learning his lines for the play. They pass a corner and see Miss West, and Julian flinches. Even after Julian’s heart-to-heart discussion with Miss West about her son, she is still unhappy and volatile, and "lately the class has been turning against her" (177). Julian reflects how unfair it is for unhappiness to flow out of a person, just to ricochet; however, Julian notices that Adam's kindness flows out of him and into other people, and so his kindness ricochets, too.

Julian narrates this chapter, which begins with Julian in his hidden room in the theater attic less than a week before the play. He is afraid that his room will be discovered because the kids are near the black ladder that leads up to the room. Julian waits until they are gone before he climbs back down. As he's climbing down, he steps towards the theater curtain and hears Kristin say that he's going to ruin the entire play because he can't memorize his lines.

The scene shifts to an afternoon, afterplay rehearsal is done. Julian is standing outside of the school. Charlie drives by in his Jeep and asks Julian if he wants a ride, and Julian accepts. Julian notices that "tonight his expression is different, scarier" (180). Out of the blue, Charlie calls Adam an "asshole," and Julian tells Charlie Adam’s not an asshole (180).Julian says it's okay with him if Charlie lets him out before he gets home; Charlie tells Julian to shut up. He says he told Julian he was giving him a ride home, and that's what he'll do. Julian apologizes to Charlie, saying that he knows he annoys people. He tells Charlie that's why he doesn't ride the bus because he knows he annoys a boy (Jared) on the bus. Julian tells Charlie that sometimes the boy hits him, but that's okay because Julian knows why the boy is hitting him: people hit other people when they are unhappy. Charlie responds with, "'Or maybe they're just dicks'" (161). Before he gets out of the car, Julian asks Charlie if he's happy, and Charlie answers no. When Julian asks why not, Charlie says he doesn't know.

This chapter is narrated twice by Julian and twice by Adam. Julian begins the narration as he gets in Adam’s car with Charlie, Jesse and Emerald as Adam gives everyone a ride home. Jesse asks if Julian has play rehearsal today, and Julian says no, which causes Julian to confess that he lost his part in the play because he couldn't learn his lines. Charlie then asks Julian if he wanted to be in the play, and Julian replies "'I guess not'" (184). After Adam drops everyone else off, Adam drives back to his house, and instead of going to Julian's house, he forces a stubborn Julian to rehearse his lines. Julian improves significantly with Adam's coaching.

Adam’s second narration explains how he approaches Ms. Cross, the play director. He asks her if she would consider giving Julian his part in the play back. Ms. Cross tells Adam that Charlie (although he wants to remain anonymous) and Emerald have already been by her office asking for the same thing. Ms. Cross agrees to let Julian have his part back.

The last scene of the chapter takes place at the play performance, and we experience it through Julian’s narration. Charlie, Allison, Camila, Matt, Jesse and Adam all show up to support Julian. Julian remembers his lines and speaks clearly during his performance, and all of Adam's friends and Adam stand to cheer him.