The Lines We Cross

Mina visits an exhibition of student artwork and sees a series of sketches that depict a refugee in a birdcage reaching for a key. She’s stunned by the pieces and by the fact that Michael is the artist. She asks him to explain his sketches because they contradict Aussie Values’ stance. He answers, “I’m just trying to figure out what I stand for” (245). A jubilant Paula invites him to the movie night she and Mina have planned, saying: “One does not simply grow a conscience without being invited to a movie marathon” (246). Even though attending Paula’s party may reduce his social status at school, Michael happily agrees to go.

Michael creates an interactive invitation for Paula’s movie marathon and uploads it to the event’s Facebook page. Within minutes, Mina sends him a friend request with a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien: “Not all those who wander are lost” (248). Michael evades Terrence’s offer to hang out that night but doesn’t tell him he’s going to Paula’s party. When he walks Nathan home from school, a journalist stops them and asks, “What’s it like being the son of the founder of a racist organization like Aussie Values?” (252).