Too Bright to See

Bug spends the day outside, imagining himself as a plucky heroine in a book instead of his real self. When he returns home, he tiptoes past Roderick’s room. He is not ready to go inside.

Bug starts having strange dreams. He dreams he is putting on makeup covered in mold and that his face is a skull. Roderick used to tell Bug that dreams have meaning, but Bug cannot think what the meaning might be. When he gets up, he sees that his room is a mess: His clothes have been scattered everywhere, drawers and cupboards are flung open, and his bookshelf is upended. He believes a ghost has wrecked his room. He forces himself to be brave and puts his room back together. 

Later, Bug goes over to Moira’s house. He is relieved to be getting out of his own house, but when he arrives he is surprised to see four other girls from their grade there: Emily, Madeleine, Isla, and Olive. They are Moira’s friends, and all of them want to talk about boys. Bug plays along and tries to pretend that he knows what to say. Later, Madeleine asks Bug about his name.