As a child, Landreaux enters the boys’ dormitory of the boarding school where a matron explains the demerit system. “If he didn’t wash or if he wet the bed, if he overslept, if he was noisy after lights-out or backtalked or went out of school boundaries, or most especially, if he ever ran away, demerits would be marked by his name” (155). Landreaux sees Romeo, who refuses to make his bed and calls the adults names. When Romeo arrived, sans parents and starving, people thought he was stupid but he turns out to be the smartest kid in school. Romeo stops wetting the bed because he stops drinking water, but the other boys still don’t want to sleep underneath him, except Landreaux. Landreaux and Romeo form a connection, and Romeo becomes better because of it; they win the admiration of the other boys and teachers and even get to go home with Mrs. Peace a few times, where Romeo falls in love with the infant Emmaline, who Landreaux ignores. Mrs. Peace feeds them and mothers them. When they read aloud together, Romeo stumbles so Landreaux won’t feel stupid. Landreaux starts talking about running away, and the boys discuss one girl who clung onto a bus to escape.