Chapter 9 Summary

Tom continues telling Dr. Lowenstein about his life. He tells about Lila overhearing two women talking about the flowers in her hair and bad nail polish. Lila stops wearing the flowers after that. Tom says there are two kinds of Wingos - those like his grandfather who spend their lives forgiving people and those who hold grudges for a century or more. He says he is in the latter group. He quotes his father, "If you can't beat up an enemy kid, wait twenty years and beat up his wife and kid." (Page 221)

Tom relates an incident with Todd Newbury. Tom punches him out after hearing Todd disparage Tom's family. Todd is the son of the most powerful man in Colleton, and Tom gets into great trouble. However, the school principal doesn't actually beat Tom, letting Tom know that he is glad Tom...