Wonder Chapter 21 Summary

Padawan

  • After the first day of school, Auggie cuts off his Padawan braid. His dad doesn't care, but his sister is pretty outraged. She has a different understanding of what that braid represents.
  • Auggie's dad checks in with him at bedtime, and Auggie assures his dad that the first day was really okay, but double-checks that he could stop going to school if he wanted to.
  • His dad says it would depend on the reason, and that they had all agreed that Auggie would tell them if bad things were happening.
  • Auggie's mom comes in to say goodnight. She is more neutral about the braid, and proceeds with his bedtime routine.
  • Auggie knows it's kind of babyish to still have his parents take turns putting him to bed, "but," he says, "that's just how it was with us" (1.Padawan.33).
  • Mom sends Dad to check on Via (first day at a new school for her too), and she reads to Auggie from The Hobbit; Auggie is relieved not to have to talk.
  • Suddenly Auggie is in tears. "Why do I have to be so ugly, Mommy?" (1.Padawan.47), he asks.
  • She tries to tell him he isn't, but he says he know that he is.
  • His mom comforts him as best she can with lots of love and kisses and nice words, but Auggie knows "her words can't change [his] face" (1.Padawan.51).