Firegirl

Tension increases in these chapters as Jessica becomes more of a person to Tom and the reader but is rejected by most of the class; rumors cast her again as an object of fear and difference. Tom continues to display his characteristic sense of empathy and his physical sensitivity to emotional distress. Tom’s compassionate interest in Jessica wars with his desire for normalcy and invisibility. Tom gets more socially involved, but his friendship with Jeff suffers a blow. Jeff continues to stoke animosity towards Jessica, and readers learn more about his troubled home life. Throughout this section, Abbott expands on themes of difference, the consequences of silence and speaking, identity, and friendship.

Up to this point, the class has nervously attempted to ignore the presence of Jessica. No one speaks with her, and Jessica herself tries to be unobtrusive. Nonetheless, she is the elephant in the room. Students are frightened and repulsed by her appearance, and she remains a stranger. Jeff’s outward rejection of Jessica and his hateful comments about her being smelly and diseased exacerbate Jessica’s difference. The photograph Jessica inadvertently drops allows the class to find commonality with her. Tom is relieved, thinking that since they “suddenly found a regular thing about her—her sister” (70), things can return to normal. Now, they can see Jessica as a person and talk with her about subjects they share. Tom sees this form of talk as positive and connection-building.

When students learn Jessica’s sister has died, their fledgling goodwill vanishes. The class assumes Jessica is to blame for the fire, and rather than seeing her as the victim she is, they paint her as a guilty party. Not only is she monstrous in appearance, but her character is monstrous: She murdered her angelic, perfect sister. Tom observes that the class feels permitted to voice their fears because they believe Jessica is at fault. This type of talk is the opposite of what Tom hoped for: divisive and cruel, rather than unifying.

Tom still craves normalcy, relaxing when both Jessica and Jeff—discordant notes in the class harmony—are absent, but Tom begins to leave his comfort zone. Though uncomfortable speaking out, and though he would rather retreat and not hear what is being said, Tom stands up for Jessica. He is almost physically ill listening to the hateful comments about Jessica, which he says are “idiotic and pointless and hurtful” (76). Tom is sensitive to Jessica’s feelings. He imagines, near tears, if Jessica were beautiful like her sister, how hard her life must be now.

Tom’s compassion extends to Jeff. Tom realizes that Jeff is having trouble at home, and while he recognizes that he cannot personally relate, he can sympathize. Jeff feels unloved. His father ignores him on his weekend visits and makes him feel guilty by saying that he lives in a small home because he must pay for Jeff’s Catholic school tuition. Jeff’s mother is rarely home. Jeff bleakly comments, “So who even cares?” (60). Jeff’s anger towards his parents and Jessica makes Tom uncomfortable and leads him to lie to Jeff, causing Jeff to ignore him: a crack in their friendship.

Despite his open-minded nature when it comes to others, Tom struggles with self-esteem issues. He is self-conscious, worries about doing things wrong, and is often unsure about how to adequately express himself. Tom hides his campaign poster and refuses to participate in the election, yet Tom fears the same isolation he senses that Jessica must endure. Tom understands that the consequence of continuing to tell the other boys that their stories about Jessica are “dumb” is being an outcast, left alone “like she was alone” (77).