Chapter 11 Summary and Analysis

In Baltimore, Lucy can only find a job selling magazines door to door, and Hal's company quickly collapses. He comes to Baltimore; Charlie has long since returned to Belleville, depressed at the constant funerals. After a few months, Hal leaves, too. Russell is trying to survive in the city and is unaware of Lucy's financial struggles. A bully Pete beats him up at school. Even after they are taken to the principal's office and threatened with expulsion, Pete wants to keep fighting. After that, Russell spends his time avoiding Pete.

Russell gets a job delivering papers, and lately the news is about Hitler and Mussolini. Early one morning, Russell opens his paper to find that a dissected body has been found in the sewer, all but the head. Russell starts his route, shrouded in fear. He refuses to go into unlit...