Reality Boy

On Gerald’s 17th birthday, he receives a card from his mother, which says, “Who loves ya, kiddo?” (233) The message does not surprise him, but he is disappointed by the lack of sentimentality. In Hannah’s gift of a personalized mixed CD and card for Gerald, she writes, “I love you” (233). As he is in disbelief about this message, he does not tell Hannah that he has read her card.

Gerald wants to talk to Mr. Fletcher about leaving the SPED classroom for regular classes. He encounters his classmates, including Deirdre, who uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy. She demands to know why he is always sulking despite being famous through reality television. When he says that he feels “embarrassed” (235), she argues back that his embarrassment makes her feel like she occupies a lower status in life given her circumstances. She tells him that she could use his reality television fame to become an even bigger celebrity. When Deirdre puts this into perspective, he agrees that she makes a good point. He decides to delay talking to Mr. Fletcher.

When Gerald meets up with Hannah after school to ride to work together, he continues pretending that he has not read her birthday card for him, even though she can see that the envelope has been opened.