The Misfits

As Bobby walks home from the Candy Kitchen, he thinks about Mr. Kellerman’s mom. Bobby remembers his own mom’s death when he was seven. Bobby’s mom was an actress and would sometimes teach classes or appear in community plays or commercials. Bobby’s parents were happy together; while his mom pursued acting, his dad hoped to one day open his own landscaping business. Bobby considers his mom the dreamer of the family, whereas, he says, “My dad was never much of a dreamer. He let my mom do the dreaming for the two of them” (170). One day, Bobby’s mom picked him up after school and Bobby could tell something was wrong. A few hours earlier, his mom discovered she had cancer.

Remembering his own mom, Bobby thinks about how Mr. Kellerman must feel and wonders, “[M]aybe—even though he’s a grown man and his mom was an old lady and all—just maybe he feels the way I did, knowing his mom has died but waiting for her to come home” (173).

At home, Bobby’s dad orders pizza for dinner. As they sit down to eat, Bobby asks his dad when he started going out with girls. Bobby’s dad says he had his first girlfriend at ten. Being twelve, Bobby suddenly wonders if there is something wrong with him because he hasn’t had a girlfriend yet. Bobby’s dad says it’s no big deal and points out that his friend didn’t have his first girlfriend until high school. Bobby tells his dad that he likes a girl, but she likes someone else, even though that other person only sees her as a friend. Bobby’s dad suggests Bobby tell her how he feels and ask her to hang out sometime.

Bobby asks his dad why he gave up on starting his own landscaping business after Bobby’s mom died. Bobby’s dad answers, “‘I needed her […] I’m not real good on my own’” (178). Bobby accuses his dad of giving up on the business and of never asking girls out. Bobby’s dad says he’ll understand when he’s older, but Bobby says, “When I’m older I don’t want to stop living if something bad happens to me. I don’t want to give up. And I don’t want my kid feeling sorry for me either” (180). Bobby expects his dad to be mad at him but, overwhelmed, Bobby starts to cry. As his dad comforts him, Bobby recalls, “Dad and me. Hammer and Skip. We have a good cry” (180). 

When Bobby and Addie arrive at school Wednesday morning, all of their posters have been taken down. Ms. Wyman asks Bobby and Addie to speak to her before homeroom. She explains that she knows Addie and her friends put up the signs, it is against the rules to put up signs without the principal’s permission, and Addie and Bobby have not received permission to create a third political party. Ms. Wyman asks again, “I just don’t understand why you can’t work within the system” (183). Bobby asks Ms. Wyman if he and Addie can meet with both her and the principal to explain the purpose behind their new political party. Surprised to see Bobby so talkative and passionate about a cause, Ms. Wyman agrees.

In the principal’s office, Addie “doesn’t even wait for her fanny to hit the chair before she starts talking” (186), but the principal, Mr. Kiley, interrupts Addie. Mr. Kiley accuses Addie of being “‘a rebel without a cause’” (187)—someone who is stirring up trouble simply for attention and without a clear purpose. Mr. Kiley says he wants to hear specifics, and he wants to hear from Bobby. Bobby explains that while the Freedom Party wasn’t specific enough, the No-Name Party has a clear mission: “[M]aking kids think about name-calling, and, well, putting an end to it, if we can” (188). Mr. Kiley and Ms. Wyman agree that name-calling is a problem at their school and give Addie and Bobby permission to move forward with the No-Name Party. Bobby is proud of himself for speaking up. As they leave the office, Addie is happy and proud of Bobby.  

The next day, Addie, Bobby, Skeezie, and Joe hang new posters all over school. These posters announce the No-Name Party, along with their names and the positions they’re running for. Each poster contains an insult with a circle drawn around it and a slash through it. The group worries that including the insults on the posters will just invite other students to call them those names, but it doesn’t happen. Bobby points out, “I mean, what can anybody say that doesn’t just prove our point?” (192). Later that week, Colin calls Addie amazing and asks Joe if he can vote for him, even though they are running against each other. Meanwhile, Joe gets a note in his locker from Kelsey, asking him to meet her at the flagpole after school. Joe convinces Bobby and Addie to come with him and plans to tell Kelsey he only likes her as a friend. At the flagpole, Kelsey doesn’t show up, but Addie sees Colin and runs off to catch up with him. Bobby wonders “how seriously Colin takes his relationship with Addie, or if he even knows he has one” (195). On Friday, Bobby finds a scrap of paper with the initials B. and G. and a heart around it. Bobby hopes it is a love letter from Kelsey and that the initials are his.

At work, Bobby is surprised to see Mr. Kellerman. He assumed his boss would take a few days off after his mom’s death, yet Mr. Kellerman is just as strict as ever. Bobby knows he should offer his condolences to Mr. Kellerman, but he can’t find a good moment. At one point, Mr. Kellerman disappears. An elderly customer comes in and asks for Mr. Kellerman. Bobby finds Mr. Kellerman crouched over in the stockroom. Mr. Kellerman scolds Bobby for abandoning the tie department but finally leaves to assist the customer. After the store closes, Mr. Kellerman asks Bobby if they can walk home together. Bobby says he is sorry about Mr. Kellerman’s mother and shares that his mom died too. Mr. Kellerman says he knows. He adds that his mom always doted on him. If it weren’t for Mr. Kellerman’s father’s encouragement, he may not have left and gone to college. Mr. Kellerman eventually got married. When Mr. Kellerman’s father died, Mr. Kellerman wanted to move back to Paintbrush Falls to be closer to his mother, but his wife didn’t like his mother being a big part of their lives and eventually left him.

Mr. Kellerman and Bobby eventually arrive at Mr. Kellerman’s house, and Bobby asks to use the restroom. When Bobby comes out of the bathroom, he and Mr. Kellerman look at photographs from Mr. Kellerman’s childhood on the walls. Mr. Kellerman mentions that they have two things in common: they’ve both lost their mothers, and they both have the first name Robert. Before this, Bobby never knew Mr. Kellerman’s first name. Before Bobby leaves, Mr. Kellerman apologizes to Bobby for always being so angry, thanks Bobby for walking with him and for listening, and tells him this will be a new beginning for their relationship.