When Caitlin receives Martin’s photograph in the mail, she is surprised that he has sent her such a formal image of himself. The photographs she has sent him are all of her and her friends. When she looks back on their correspondence, she is grateful for all the times he has listened to her without judgment, especially as she describes her conflicts with her friends. In hindsight, she admits that they feel small compared to what Martin experiences in his everyday life. She realizes that Martin avoids talking about his own life because he is trying to protect her from the hardships he experiences. She remembers once that he wrote to her, saying, “At our school we wear uniforms so our parents do not bother buying us as many clothes as you have. You are lucky” (86).

Toward the end of 1998, conditions continue to grow worse for Martin’s family. As Martin’s parents struggle to make enough money to sustain the family, Martin’s father has resorted to drinking more after work. This leads to more frequent arguments between Martin’s mother and father. One day, before an important exam at school, Martin’s parents get into an argument about not having enough money to pay for Martin to take his exam.