Twisted

Tyler’s life at school becomes difficult when everyone goes back to bullying him. Yoda tries to encourage him by helping him think positively; Hannah takes the opposite tack and tells Tyler it never would have worked out with Bethany anyway. When he insists she really liked him, Hannah explains it doesn’t matter because dorks and popular kids can never mix. 

Bethany returns to school after a week away. Principal Hughes intercepts Tyler at the entrance and tells him he’ll be spending homeroom in the office for the time being. In English, Tyler is sure Mr. Salvatore will eviscerate him for failing to do his homework, but instead the teacher pats him on the shoulder sympathetically.

While at his locker, someone throws something at Tyler’s head. He goes to the nurse’s office and Principal Hughes pulls Tyler from his classes and puts him in study hall for the rest of the day. Tyler falls asleep and wakes up to Joe the janitor looking at him. Joe tells him to keep his chin up. 

That night, the Millers have their annual Christmas card make-up appointment. Due to the events leading up to the appointment, no one is speaking to each other. Bill refuses to wear any of the costume pieces that Linda has selected but assents to holding a wrapped box. The photographer tells Tyler, “[n]o, no, no. Your head is too far off the ground. I can’t get it into the frame” (159). 

On Saturday morning, Tyler’s father wakes him early with a chore list. Tyler has to climb up on the roof to retrieve old, broken Christmas lights. While up there, Tyler asks Bill to bring him some pliers. Bill tries to have a conversation with Tyler about Bethany, particularly that he is proud of him for not taking advantage of the situation at the party.

Bill begins to back down the ladder but experiences a bout of vertigo. Tyler helps him get safely to the ground and offers to get his mother. Bill looks terrified when Tyler suggests getting his mother to help; he makes Tyler promise not to tell her what happened.

Later that night, Officer Adams returns to the house and asks Tyler the same questions as the first night, to which Tyler gives the same responses. 

Bill and Linda meet with Principal Hughes and Tyler about the ongoing investigation. Principal Hughes admits that there are no grounds to punish or suspend Tyler, but that something must be done. He suggests moving Tyler to an in-school suspension room where he can complete his work but be separated from the rest of the student body. Mr. Miller is amenable and says he’s grateful that Principal Hughes is being generous about things. Mrs. Miller balks and says that she will sue the school district if they deny Tyler his right to an education.

Tyler interrupts and agrees to go along with Principal Hughes’ plan. His father is relieved. Tyler goes to the vacant room set aside for him and opens his English homework, Faustus.

Between class periods, students slap and kick the door of the room where Tyler has been housed. After school, Yoda knocks politely and asks whether Tyler wants to go to the mall. Yoda has to get a job because, he says, having a girlfriend is unexpectedly expensive.

While at the mall, Yoda again tries to lift Tyler’s spirits, but he is in a bad mood. Yoda tries a different approach by agreeing with Tyler, which just pisses him off more. Tyler says, “[y]ou’re trying to stay on my good side because you want to get into my sister’s pants” (175). Yoda calmly tells him, “At some point you’re going to feel like a real asshole for saying that to me. When that happens, you give me a call” (175). Yoda leaves Tyler at the mall. 

Yoda goes with his parents on some college visits, so Hannah and Tyler have to ride the bus. Hannah does not sit with her brother due to the way he insulted Yoda. In spite of his sister giving him the cold shoulder, the day is filled with small kindnesses. Mr. Salvatore comes to Tyler’s room to go over Faustus. Someone anonymously leaves a donut on Tyler’s desk when he takes a bathroom break.

At one point during the day, Tyler notices Bethany standing outside his door. He fantasizes that she apologizes to him for what happened, but in reality, she stares at him for awhile and moves on.

At home that night, the police return to question Tyler for a third time. When Officer Adams asks the same questions as before, Linda produces a business card and tells him that future communications must be through her lawyer.