Ch+39+-+41

 **Missing Persons-Chapter 39** **Summary** The Missing Person Bureau lay on the first floor of the police building. "You must be the lady who rang earlier. Er...Mrs Duncan. I'm Sergeant Simmonds." Sergeant Simmonds' face had been tired and weary. It was weighed down by the sadness of the people who came searching for their loved ones. After the introductions had been said they had a cup of tea before the questions began. Sergeant Simmonds asked about Kerry's habits and what was unusual about her. Carl wasn't able to answer most of his questions. One more thing had to be done and it would not be easy. Sergeant Simmonds came out with a big folder and got to look at pictures of women who had died and had remained unidentified, just so they could be sure that Kerry wasn't dead. First the pictures were of women who are definitely not Carl's mum, so Carl could get used to looking at the bodies of the dead. Carl flipped every page looking at each picture and every detail of the women's faces. He kept flipping pages until suddenly Kerry Matt's face was staring him in the eyes, buried into his face. '"How did this one die?" "Bus crash," "You might have seen it on the tele last year. Just over the border. Nine people killed. This one we couldn't account for."' (pg 275.) Joy noticed the signals that Carl were giving away and guessed the woman was Kerry, but not Sergeant Simmonds. 'Carl wanted to say it, he wanted to say, 'This is my mother,' but he couldn't, there was no time to search for reasons.' (pg 276) He moved on from the picture of Kerry, trying to keep the same pattern he had already conquered with the other photos, until the big folders' pages finally came to an end. We learn in this chapter that Carl is unsure of his feelings towards his mother's death. He can not cry over her when he sees her eyes staring at him through the picture. Carl does not know how to feel. We also learn a bit about Joy in this chapter, we learn that she loves Carl. She knows Carl well now and when she sees the signals he gave away she feels like a mother to him.

Carl -Carl is observant of the emotions present in the room ‘His face was lined and weary, weighed down with sadness…´the sadness of those who came searching .' pg 272. -Carl knew little about his mother, except what she was like in her relationship with him. He couldn’t answer any of Sergeant Simmons’ questions. -Carl didn’t want anyone to see through him and know about his fears and doubts. He hides all of his feelings and unconsciously creates safety nets to conceal the truth. ‘‘How did this woman die?’It wasn’t his mother. Nothing like her.’ pg 274. Carl occasionally asked a question about different woman, so that when he saw the picture of Kerry he could ask about her without Sergeant Simmons suspecting anything. –he likes to come to terms with things himself before he talks to anyone else about them.
 * Character Developments**

Joy -she saw new insights into Carl. Despite the fact he didn’t say anything when he reached the picture of Kerry; she realized it was her by his reaction. ‘…he missed the minute signals Carl gave away. But not Joy… he sensed her interest and knew what she suspected…’ pg 275-276 -she really does care about Carl and Harley; she took on the role of a mother by wanting everything to be alright for them and wanted to help Carl uncover the mystery of what happened to Kerry. The plot of this chapter (chapter 39 - Missing Persons) is that Carl finally finds out what had happened to his mother and is unsure about his emotions. He doesn't really know what happened to Kerry, only that she died in a bus crash.
 * Major Plot**

In this chapter Joy and Carl come closer as a family. "...she looked carefully at the photo then even more intently at Carl himself. He sensed her interest and knew she suspected." page 276 (new) page 227 (old) Also by becoming closer as a family they have become closer as friends. He learnt about his past by finding out how his mother dies. "Bush Crash. You might have seen it on the tele last year..." page 226 (old) page 275 (new) Carl's self-esteem is not recognised in this chapter yet. "He need only look up at the policeman and say the words. '//This is my mother//.' He couldn't..." page 227 (old) page 276 (new)
 * Theme Developments**

Homework Task - Someone in your life is missing and you have to put up a missing persons notice. (You do not have to do your mother you can do anyone that is important in your life.) Include - A picture of the them, description and information about them.

(Do the activity on a loose sheet of paper and give to either Sarah or Katherine )