A List of Cages

Adam narrates the scene as he walks Julian to Dr. Whitlock's office. Julian suddenly asks Adam if he wants to know where he usually eats lunch. Julian tells Adam he’ll show him if Adam promises not to tell. After Adam agrees not to tell anyone, Julian takes Adam to his secret room in the theater stage attic. Adam outwardly says the room is a cool place, but Adam notices that "it's practically a closet, one that was burned and rebuilt but still smells like it's rotting," (191). Adam is very surprised Julian eats lunch in such a small, smelly place every day (191). Adam picks up one of Julian's composition books stacked in a corner of the secret room and reads one of Julian's stories. He tells Julian how good he thinks it is, and he compares it to the writing of his beloved Elian Mariner stories. The school bell rings and Adam tells Julian he shouldn't eat alone in the room, and instead eat in the cafeteria with his friends.

The narrative now shifts to Julian’s point of view as he joins Adam and his friends in the cafeteria. Julian has fun and it feels like the time he danced at Emerald’s birthday party.