Reality Boy

Joe Jr. discourages Gerald from trying to join the circus. He tells him that he has a lot going for him in town and that circus life is not as glamorous as he thinks it is. Gerald protests: “If I stay here, I’ll end up in jail” (125). Hannah sides with him and demands that Joe Jr. allow him to join the circus. Joe Jr. mistakenly identifies Hannah as Gerald’s girlfriend and tries appealing to their relationship to encourage Gerald to stay. Gerald wonders why today has been especially triggering for him, considering Tasha has antagonized him his entire life: “Hasn’t she been drowning me in plain view since I was born?” (125).

For the filming of the second episode of Network Nanny, Nanny proposes that the family spend an entire day making sure that Gerald gets to do what he wants. She believes that Gerald acts out because his parents don’t give him proper attention and are too preoccupied with Tasha. She reprimands Gerald’s mother for trying to complete Tasha’s homework when it’s Tasha’s responsibility. When Gerald’s mother expresses that it will reflect poorly on her if Tasha doesn’t do her homework, Nanny says, “it only reflects on you because you let it” (128).

Gerald’s parents reluctantly agree to Nanny’s orders. Gerald has a happy day in which his parents make him his favorite food, buy him a special treat, and spend time playing ball with him. Gerald becomes extremely well-behaved due to receiving attention from both parents. When bedtime nears, Tasha pushes Gerald down the stairs and claims that she only did it because she saw him about to defecate on top of the stairs. Everybody knows that Tasha is lying, but she begins crying and insists that she’s telling the truth. Nanny is skeptical and sends Gerald to brush his teeth so that she can discuss what happened with his parents. Gerald pretends to leave the scene but returns to secretly listen. He overhears Nanny asking why Gerald would defecate as a form of rebellion if he had such a happy day. Tasha insists that the reason is because Gerald is “retarded” (131).

Gerald drops Hannah off at her house, which also serves as a junkyard for Hannah’s father’s business. While Hannah is ashamed of the appearance of her house, Gerald is unphased. He jokes, “If I was going to run off to the circus with anyone, I’d pick you” (133). She responds positively to this sentiment. When he checks his messages, he sees that he has a few from his father telling him that they are about to call the police if he does not return home. He also has some messages from Joe Jr., who tells him, “You have no idea how good you have it, Gerald” (134). Gerald begins to wonder if this is true since spending time with Hannah has broadened his mood and appreciation for life.

When Gerald returns home, he finds his father drunk, waiting up for him. His father reveals that he wishes he could leave Gerald’s mother and start a new life with Gerald at a new house. He tells Gerald that while he loves Tasha, he wishes that he can kick her out as “she is fucking up [his] marriage” (137). Gerald’s mother would never allow Tasha to leave. Gerald says that he cannot stay in the house so long as Tasha lives there. He insists that they have a conversation with his mother about Tasha, as even Roger agrees that his sister is problematic.

At school, Gerald attends gym class, where he encounters a new student who tries teasing him about his appearances on Network Nanny. Gerald stares off with the new student until he backs away. Later that day, Gerald’s mood improves when Hannah approaches him at his locker and asks to eat lunch with him. He is hesitant at first, since he usually eats alone because he’s unpopular. Hannah insists that she is the same. At lunch, Hannah asks if Gerald is her friend. Gerald wants to say that she means more to him than a friend. She tells him that, as her friend, he must be okay with the fact that she writes in her notebook about everyone, including him. He says that he does not have an issue with that practice. She later reveals that she is writing their plan of escape: They are going to kidnap themselves.