Chapter+34

= The Curse of the Matts (Part 2) = In this chapter Carl finds out that Skip's son Graham was killed by his grandfather. This affects Carl very deeply as he and his grandfather looked alike. Carl goes across to Wiseman’s Cove to check if a little boy he saw in a photograph was really related to Skip and Joy. After realizing all this he decides to run away from Wiseman’s Cove. He works on the barge all day and plans to catch the bus to Hendon in the morning. Bruce blames Beryl for Carl not wanting the job. Beryl is very upset and tells Carl that Bruce owns half of Wattle Lady. As he tells Beryl that he is leaving she breaks down and begs him not to go. "Don't leave me, Carl...” she cries. He eventually decides to stay and help Skip keep the Barge. Beryl calls him "Carl Matt, the bloody hero" but he doesn't care. He stands up to her. Carl has become so much more confident since he talked to Justine.
 * Summary: **

Carl is very upset and wants to run away. Aunt Beryl realizes she can't let him leave and begs him to stay. Carl finds Out about Skip's son Graham being killed by his grandfather.
 * The Major plot: **

In this chapter Carl is very upset. He finds out about his grandfather killing Skip's son Graham. This affects Carl and we learn that he is a very sensitive person. He realizes why the Duncans have so much hate towards the Matts. I believe that he is embarrassed and feels partly responsible for what his grandfather did all those years ago.  This is when we see another side to Beryl. We learn that even though she acts as if Carl and Harley are too much trouble she really does feel as though she needs them. She realized that without Carl she would not be able to survive. She realized that Carl is everything for her. Beryl had to realize that Carl could leave anytime and that she actually needed him. She also had to understand that for him to stay she needed to treat him right.
 * Carl: **
 * Beryl:**

-Family relationships: The Duncans see Carl as family and their relationship has definitely changed when Carl finds out about what happened to little graham. Also Beryl realises that her relationship with Carl is special to her and that she needs him.
 * Themes: **

-Breaking free from the curse of the Matts: Carl realizes that he doesn't have to run away and he thinks about how much it would hurt Beryl, Justine, Skip, Joy and Harley. He decides to keep helping Skip save the barge."...Skip's going to lose it soon anyway..." says Beryl to Carl. "Not if I stick with him." Carl replies.

Homework Task- In this chapter there is talk about a so called 'Curse of the Matts'. Do you think there is really a curse? Why/why not? Give reasons. 1 paragraph.