Summary

In Chapter 7, a judge ordered Ryan to go to a center for violent kids around his age. At first, Ryan behaved well, but gradually his behavior became violent. When the staff made him talk on the phone with Valerie, his behavior worsened. Mrs. Hughes even called him to reassure him, but in response to her call, all he could do was cry.

Eventually, the Center paid for gas for Valerie to visit. Both Ryan and Valerie did not remember this visit later and had thought that it had not happened; they had blocked it out of their memories. The staff’s notes about this visit said that Valerie and Ryan had been angry at each other.

Bergner interviewed Priscilla Jenkins, a Cuban woman who had worked at the facility. She remembered Ryan’s big eyes and his deep pain; she had seen that...