Contents
Packing
Overview
On the eve of the school retreat, August packs with Mom, choosing a plain duffel and secretly bringing his childhood bear for comfort. Mom reviews safety—especially protecting his hearing aids—while recognizing how much August has grown. August takes charge of bedtime, reads Narnia, and anticipates the trip with newfound independence.
Summary
August and Mom pack for the three-day, two-night school retreat, placing neatly folded clothes into a plain blue rolling duffel—part of August’s effort to change his image. Worried about sleeping and nightmares, August decides to secretly bring Baboo, his childhood stuffed bear, which Mom hides deep in the bag.
They wish phones were allowed, then Mom runs through practical reminders: use bug spray and sunscreen, remove hearing aids before swimming, and cover them with a hood in rain. Their joking about the cost of the hearing aids underscores their importance.
Noticing August’s removed Star Wars poster, Mom acknowledges how much he has grown. August, still shortest in his grade, voices doubts about the trip, but Mom reassures him. When it’s time for bed, August chooses to read on his own instead of being tucked in, signaling new independence.
August promises to write letters from the trip and begins reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe until he falls asleep, the “deeper magic” passage echoing the chapter’s theme of inner strength beneath surface changes.
Who Appears
- August (Auggie) PullmanPacks for the retreat, hides his stuffed bear for comfort, manages bedtime himself, and reads Narnia.
- MomHelps August pack, offers reassurance and safety instructions about hearing aids, and notes his growing maturity.