Flying Solo

The final chapter occurs on Monday, May 1, in Mr. Fabiano’s classroom. Mr. Fabiano looks somber, but everything is going normally even though there are TV crews and reporters outside the school. Mr. Fabiano takes attendance, and Rachel speaks for the first time in six months, simply saying “I’m here” for the roll call. The class is shocked but happy to hear her talk again.

Mr. Fabiano tells the class he wants each student in the class to write him a letter about what happened on Friday. Jasmine writes about how normal the day was and how the class felt like a team. Jessica shares that her parents interrogated her about her decision-making on Friday and how she was the only person who was against the idea of the class running itself. Christopher writes about how the National Enquirer called his house to get the scoop and that the reporter was sad when Christopher revealed that all they did was their work on Friday. Missy writes about how Friday proved that kids can have fun and still act responsibly. Karen writes that Friday was the first time she truly felt like a leader and that she takes responsibility for what happened. She tells Mr. Fabiano that the only time she wished he was there was when Rachel and Bastian got in an argument—but also that if he were there, she doubts “we ever would have talked and written about Tommy Feathers” (134). Bastian’s letter, which he wrote on Friday, tells Mr. Fabiano about how he cried because he was sad about giving up Barkley and that it’s okay if Rachel reads his letter. Sean writes about how he walked Rachel home and how Bastian cried when he gave him Barkley. Sean also shares that Barkley slept on his bed with him, and it made him feel like it was Christmas. The last letter is from Rachel. She explains how she realized her mutism was a choice and that she “could choose to speak when [she] was ready” (137). She confesses she snubbed Tommy the night before he died, but she now knows she can’t change things and that she is not a terrible person.