Noughts And Crosses

The narrative returns to the present, and Sephy suspects there is a reason why Callum asked her to remember the picnic at Celebration Park. She admits she resents Callum making her feel “ashamed of myself a lot recently” (121). As a result of her relationship with Callum, Sephy becomes more aware of the inequalities noughts face in their society. Callum points out that winter is on the way, and Sephy understands it to mean that they will be seeing each other less in the coming months. Callum asks Sephy who attacked her. Though she initially resists, she eventually reveals the names of her attackers to Callum.

Callum arrives home and discovers Jude and Lynette in the middle of an argument and their father attempting to separate them. Lynette is having another episode, and Jude derides her for thinking she is a Cross. Callum defends Lynette, so Jude attacks him. Their father pulls the boys apart, and when Jude tells him to “get lost” (122), he slaps Jude, which is the first time he has struck any of his children. Enraged, their father reveals that three noughts attacked Lynette and her secret Cross boyfriend three years ago, around the time their mother was fired from the Hadley residence.