History—Age Fourteen
- The day after Vera hears all that yelling over at the Kahn house, Charlie shows up at the bus stop upset. Apparently his mom is making him go to the doctor because she thinks something is wrong with his colon; he keeps throwing his underwear away.
- After school, Charlie isn't on the bus home. A kid named Tim Miller approaches Vera and says he has information about Charlie that he'll sell to her for a dollar. She ignores him.
- Vera goes to the Kahn house and rings the doorbell. Mrs. Kahn answers the door and says that Charlie is sick and won't be able to come out.
- Over the next few days, Charlie doesn't show up at school and Vera is really worried. She calls him and his mom finally lets her talk to him.
- As they talk, Vera finally figures out what's going on. Charlie isn't sick—he's been beaten by his dad and can't go to school. She doesn't say this to Charlie, though; she just tells him to feel better.
- After she gets off the phone, Vera goes to her dad crying and asks him if they're still going to ignore what's going on at the Kahns' house if it's happening to Charlie, too.
- Her dad tells her that they can't go accusing people of abuse without any proof. Vera thinks that he's being a complete hypocrite who's turning away from the real problems.