When You Trap a Tiger

Lily knows the three jars are Halmoni’s “star jars.” Ricky asks about the jars, but Lily doesn’t answer and places them out of the way; he suggests that they interrogate the tiger after capturing it, but she tells him that life isn’t a comic book. Ricky asserts that he isn’t stupid; he failed language arts the previous year for an unspecified reason and must take an important test in order to move onto the seventh grade. Lily reassures him and says she doesn’t care that he needs tutoring: “Grades don’t really translate to friendship” (134). Lily tells Ricky that she wanted to build a trap to help Halmoni feel safe as she’s afraid of tigers. Ricky assumes Halmoni’s belief that a tiger can get in the house is a result of her illness and admires Lily for helping her this way.

They finish the trap, and Lily is pleased when Ricky suggests hanging out again. He leaves his camo hat for Lily in case she finds a tiger in the trap. She realizes the star jars make for excellent tiger bait.