Petey

One spring afternoon in 1990, eighth grader Trevor Ladd is walking home from school when he hears a commotion. As he gets closer to the sounds, he finds himself in front of the local nursing home. Three bullies from his class, Kenny, Bud, and String, are throwing snowballs at a patient on the lawn. The patient screams and thrashes around in distress. Trevor instinctively begins yelling and running toward the patient, placing himself between the patient and the bullies as a shield. The bullies continue to throw snowballs and shout threats, and Trevor does all he can to protect the patient. Trevor is hit directly in the eye and begins yelling for help. A nurse runs outside in Trevor’s direction, pushing him away from the patient. Trevor explains that “some guys” were throwing snowballs but refuses to divulge the bullies’ names. She confirms with the patient that it was not Trevor who hurt him. She asks for his name and number, and he gives them, reluctantly. Trevor is uncomfortable in the atmosphere of the nursing home as he walks with the nurse and the patient inside. Trevor perceives the patients as “crazy,” old, and frightening, and is eager to return home (155).