Letters, Emails, Facebook, Texts
- All the aforementioned forms of communication are flying over the winter break. (Send All the Words).
- Jack writes his letters of apology to Mr. Tushman and Julian.
- In his letter to Mr. Tushman, Jack pleads the Fifth because offering details doesn't make what he did right and he doesn't want to get Julian in trouble.
- Mr. Tushman responds that even though Jack's violence was unjustifiable, there are almost always more than two sides to every story, and that good friends are worth defending. Aw—it seems like Tushman gets it.
- In a letter from Julian's mother to Mr. Tushman, and cc'ing Jack's parents, we read that Julian's parents support Mr. Tushman's decision not to expel Jack because they have known Jack since forever and they know he's a good kid and that his actions won't be repeated.
- However (you knew there was going to be a however in this lady's letter)… The pressure of befriending "the new child with special needs" (4.Letter, Emails, Facebook, Texts.6) may have contributed to Jack's outburst, and she chose to let Julian "off the hook" about being friends with the new boy when he found it difficult.
- The rest of her letter complains that this new child probably shouldn't have been admitted to Beecher Prep in the first place since it isn't an inclusion school.
- Mr. Tushman responds to her letter by clarifying that the new student, August (because he actually has a name), does not have special needs, nor is he disabled, handicapped, or developmentally delayed. As such, whether Beecher Prep is an inclusion school or not is irrelevant.
- He informs Julian's mom that August is a good student who has made good friends—like Jack Will, for starters.
- He also addresses the "too much pressure" concern by saying, "I did not think asking these children to be especially kind to a new student would place any extra 'burdens' or 'hardships' on them. In fact, I thought it would teach them a thing or two about empathy, and friendship, and loyalty" (4.Letters, Emails, Facebook, Texts.8). Apparently Julian falls into the old dog category when it comes to such wild and crazy new tricks.
- Jack's parents also respond to Julian's mother's letter, to say that they are touched by her concern, and that they checked with Jack to see if he felt any "undue pressure" (4.Letters, Emails, Facebook, Texts.12) about being friends with August—but Jack has given them a really clear no in response.
- Jack Will sends August a friend request on Facebook and an email apologizing to him.
- They clear the air and finish patching up their friendship via text messages.