Mrs. Davidson, Elliot’s English teacher, asks Elliot to stay behind after class. He knows his work is good, although with so much to juggle between the Guardians, Louise, and Ben, he is aware that he has rushed recent assignments. Mrs. Davidson waits for Elliot to start talking, but when he just looks at her confused, she laughs and explains that it’s nothing serious. She has noticed a drop in the standard of his usually stellar work and is wondering if there is something going on in his life that might be affecting his work; something she can help with. Before Elliot can answer, she says she knows that is can be hard to talk about problems, and “sometimes it’s those who have the toughest exterior who have it the worst. Those with the most effective masks can find it hard to take them off” (126).

Elliot freezes. He feels as though Mrs. Davidson can read his mind and that she knows everything. His terror rises until, still looking intently into his eyes, Mrs. Davidson reassures him that everyone puts on a mask before they go out and face the word every day, allowing him to breathe as he realizes that she doesn’t know anything; that she is just a very good teacher who cares about her students.