Residing as a student at the River School in his third month, Miller reads a letter from his mother, acknowledging her usual incoherent rambles filled with love and care. He opens his desk drawer for a sheet of paper and begins to write a response letter back to her. He writes how indeed he received the socks she sent him and tells her not to worry about him going to the infirmary at school. He stops writing to release his tears and wishes for the protection of his mother but remains too proud and embarrassed to show it. He quickly resumes writing, but at the sound of other boys coming up the stairs, he tries to hide his tears and appear busy. He writes in the letter that he likes his room, though he knows this is partially a lie. He also mentions how he received an A in Latin, and this triggers a memory about the day he began to feel alienated from the other boys. The teacher had praised him for being four times brighter than everyone else. Breaking Miller's flashback, the other boys, including the bully Haywood, approach Miller and taunt him for his tears. Miller denies that he was crying, and the boys make fun of him for writing “to his mommy.” He gets into a physical fight with the others but stands no chance as they drag him to the bathroom. The boys take Miller into an “Out of Order” stall and demand that he take out the waste in the unflushed bowl. Haywood tells him to squeeze it and the boys laugh and jeer before running out into the hall. After they leave, Miller walks out the bathroom straight to his room. He finishes his letter signing off with the note that he is “really fine.”