Chapter+16

=The Curse of the Matts = **Summary:** Two weeks after Carl became a permanent employee a rumor was going round that Harley had just about killed a boy called Liam Wilson. Joy had given Carl the news as she came in on 'the red barge' saying that Harley had been a fight. She took Carl back to the school as Harley was in trouble and Aunt Beryl would not accept him as her responsibility. As Carl was taken to the principal, Mrs. Wilson was heard saying that the fight was caused by the curse of Matts- "It's in the blood" she said "Always has been and the brat you've got now is proof". Harley had ripped out the earing that a boy- Liam Wilson- was wearing and, although not intentionally, tearing the earlobe aswell .Just before the enraged mother was about to storm into the room with Harley, Joy Duncan blocked her way. this caused her to say "I never thought I'd see it. Joy Duncan sticking up for a Matt. The world's gone crazy." Harley was suspended from school until the new term began. The principle asked if Carl was the person working for Skip Duncan which of course he agreed saying "I hear that's put the cat among the pigeons in certain circles. I hope it works." The principal then asks who is Harley's guardian, Carl replied that he didn't really have a guardian. "Except for you" the principal suggested. The plot development in this chapter is Harley getting in trouble and getting suspended from the school. In the process it shows how most of the people in Wattle Beach actually believe in the curse of the Matts. It also shows that Joy Duncan cares for poeple no matter who they are whether they be a Matt or not. **  Useful Quotes : ** Aunt Beryl ‘Says anything Harley does is your responsibility.’ Page 102
 * Plot Developement:**

‘ It’s the Matt family. They’re a curse on Wattle Beach. It goes right back, you know. Trash, the lot of them. I went to school with that little monster’s mother. Oh, I remember her. Typical Matt she was.’ Page 103

‘ I’m telling you, there’s a bad streak in that family. It’s in the blood. Always has been and the brat you’ve got here now is proof.’ Page 103

‘I never thought I’d see it. Joy Duncan sticking up for a Matt. The worlds gone crazy’ Page 103 Character Developments: ** Aunt Beryl- Reinforces the fact that Aunt Beryl does not like to take responsibility for anything, this is evidenced by her saying //'anything Carl does is your responsibility'.// Joy- Joy's compassionate nature is explored in this chapter. She is willing to support Carl when he has to go to the school. Joy also showed that she was willing to protect Harley evidenced by standing in the path of Mrs. Wilson when she was going to confront Harley. The comment by Mrs. Wilson that //"I never thought I'd see it. Joy Duncan sticking up for a Matt"// was intriguing leading is to ponder what happened between the Duncans and Matts for Mrs. Wilson to say this. Harley-Harley impulsiveness led to a fight with Liam Wilson and Harley being suspended from school, which leads to the dilema of who is going to care for Harley during the day. Carl- We learn that Carl is a compassionate this is evident on page 104 //'He could feel the pain in his own ear lobe so badly his hand reached up to feel the blood.'//  This chapter raises more questions than what it answers. This chapter is important as it introduces the theme of the 'Curse of the Matts". We learn that the majority of Wattle Beach believe in the curse of the Matts and take any opportunity to condemn the Matts. We learn that Joy's compassion extends to Carl's brother Harley and that she is willing to protect both Carl and Harley. It reinforces that people expect Carl (a 15 year old boy) to be responsible for his brother Harley, this is evidenced when Carl said that Harley had no guardian the principal replied "except for you". = = =By Cassie Dargan and Susan Dang, 8KPI and 8ENE=
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 * What we learn:**