The Reformatory: A Novel

At band practice, Mrs. Hamilton is annoyed with Robbie when he hesitates to answer her questions. She compliments his talent but reminds him that he doesn’t need to worry about speaking up. When Warden Haddock steps in, Mrs. Hamilton reports their progress. He then whispers an instruction to her.

Mrs. Hamilton tells Robbie that Warden Haddock wants to see him. Neither of them is sure why, but when Mrs. Hamilton catches Robbie tearing up, she guesses that he means to hide something from the warden. She urges him to be honest so that he can avoid punishment. Robbie agrees but continues to fear that he is in trouble because of Blue sneaking onto the field. On the way to the warden’s office, Redbone tells Robbie not to talk about Blue.

Warden Haddock wants to assign Robbie as a spotter. Boone recognized Robbie’s ability to perceive haints, especially after his vivid experience of the boys who died in the fire. The warden wants them to work together to reduce the number of haints at the Reformatory because he believes that the haints are ruining the school’s reputation. The warden offers to look past Robbie’s association with his father and shows Robbie an early release form that he will sign if Robbie agrees to spot for Boone.