Chapter 66: Penelope Takes the Lead
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Penelope, Baz, Simon, and Shepard arrive at an abandoned orphanage called “HOME FOR WAIFS,” where the new Chosen One has reportedly set up. Nobody answers the door despite Baz’s persistent knocking. Penelope decides to use the tracking spell “Find your way home” on Baz’s duffel bag, which still holds Pippa’s magic from the erased tape. The bag jerks toward the door, indicating Pippa is still inside. Simon shouts for “Pippa” while Baz struggles to control the bag. Penelope casts “Open Sesame” on the lock, and they enter.
Inside, they follow the bag through a dusty foyer, a hallway, and a large kitchen where a kettle is heating. The bag grows increasingly violent, trying to pin Baz to the floor. Simon helps free Baz, and they realize the bag wants to go to the basement. They find a stairwell, follow the sound of loud rock music (identified by Shepard as Def Leppard), and reach a locked door. Simon calls for Penelope to cast “Open Sesame” again. She does, and Simon opens the door to reveal a middle-aged man with stringy blond hair drinking tea and watching television. The man stops and stares, then asks, “Are you—Simon Snow?!” Simon replies, “Jamie?!”
Key Events
- The group arrives at the Home for Waifs orphanage and cannot get anyone to answer the door.
- Penelope uses a tracking spell on Baz’s duffel bag, which flies toward the entrance.
- Simon calls for “Pippa” while the bag pulls Baz deeper into the building.
- Penelope unlocks the door with “Open Sesame,” and they trespass inside.
- The bag leads them through an empty kitchen and then to a basement stairwell.
- Shepard identifies the music as Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”
- Simon forces open the final locked door after Penelope casts the spell again.
- They find a man named Jamie, who recognizes Simon Snow.
Character Development
Penelope Bunce takes charge of the operation, calmly using her magic to solve problems. She notes that Shepard knows to leave her right hand free for casting, showing their growing partnership. Penelope also shows impatience with Baz’s hesitation, calling him a “mouse” for not acting more forcefully.
Baz Pitch is frustrated and overwhelmed. The duffel bag is literally fighting him, and he has to rely on Simon to help free him from its strap. His usual composure cracks as he struggles to maintain control.
Simon Snow acts impulsively, running down the stairs ahead of the others despite Penelope’s warning. He is eager to find Pippa and does not hesitate to shout her name or force doors open. His recognition of Jamie in the final scene hints at a prior connection.
Shepard stays close to Penelope, holding her hand and offering quiet observations (identifying the music). He defers to her magical expertise but remains alert.
Jamie (new character) is a middle-aged man with a patchy beard, seemingly comfortable in the basement. His immediate recognition of Simon suggests he knows Simon from the past, possibly from Watford or the Mage’s circle.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Magic as a Tool for Intrusion – Penelope repeatedly uses the “Open Sesame” spell to force entry, highlighting how magic can override physical barriers. The tracking spell also turns Baz’s bag into a reluctant guide, symbolizing how magic can compel unwilling objects.
- Trust and Coordination – The group must work together: Penelope provides magic, Simon provides strength, Baz provides knowledge (he knows Pippa’s name and habits), and Shepard provides peripheral awareness. Their cooperation is necessary to navigate the dark, cramped spaces.
- Abandoned Spaces – The orphanage is old, dusty, and empty, evoking a sense of neglect and hidden secrets. The basement, with its loud rock music, contrasts with the silence above, suggesting something or someone is hiding.
- Music as a Clue – Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” provides an auditory beacon, leading the group downward. The anachronistic music (from the parents’ generation) may point to Jamie’s age or his attempt to block out the outside world.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 66 moves the search for Pippa from a dead end to a concrete discovery. Penelope’s creative use of tracking magic resolves the earlier setback from the erased tape, and the gang finally locates a person connected to the mystery. Jamie’s appearance raises immediate questions: Who is he? How does he know Simon? Why is he living in a derelict orphanage? The chapter also cements Penelope’s role as the group’s problem-solver and shows the increasing physical strain on Baz. The cliffhanger ending sets up the next chapter for a confrontation or revelation.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Penelope choose to use “Find your way home” on Baz’s duffel bag, and what risk does Baz mention?
Penelope uses the spell because the bag contains Pippa’s magic from the erased tape, so it can track her location. Baz warns that the spell might “erase the tape,” meaning it could destroy the magical residue and ruin their only lead. However, Penelope ignores the risk and casts anyway, and the spell works—the bag pulls toward Pippa.
2. How does the physical behavior of the duffel bag change as the group moves deeper into the building?
Initially, the bag bumps against the door lightly. As they enter the foyer, it tugs Baz forward. In the kitchen, the bag becomes aggressive: it tries to pin Baz to the floor, wraps its strap around his neck, and requires both Simon and Baz to lift it. By the basement stairs, Baz has to lean backward to avoid being pulled into a dive. The bag’s increasing violence suggests that Pippa’s magic is strongly anchored somewhere below.
3. What does Jamie’s reaction—“Is that—Are you—Simon Snow?!”—reveal about his knowledge of Simon?
Jamie recognizes Simon instantly and with astonishment, using his full name. This suggests Jamie knows Simon personally or at least knows of him as a famous figure (the former Chosen One). The fact that Jamie is living in a basement of an orphanage and watching TV indicates he may be hiding or lying low. His familiarity with Simon promises that he will provide key information in the next chapter.