Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens with Locker 89 replying to an email from a student (Strangerthings894) who is considering breaking up with her boyfriend because he doesn't meet her needs. Locker 89 reframes the situation: the student doesn't need anything from her boyfriend; she wants things. The real need is to feel loved, special, and wanted, and that need can be met through platonic relationships too. Locker 89 advises rewording requests as encouragement rather than criticism, and suggests that if the boyfriend still doesn't respond, the student should evaluate whether the relationship is worth keeping.

The narrator (Phillips) is driving Ainsley's car to Brougham's house to fulfill her “extortion requirements.” She parks at the curb rather than driving up the grand driveway, feeling it would be like “eating a work-of-art cupcake.” Brougham meets her at the entrance and leads her inside. The house is a massive mansion, and Phillips is awed by the marble floors, chandelier, and expensive décor. Brougham dismisses her questions about staff, saying they have cleaners, and insists it's not a mansion by local standards.

As they walk through the house, Brougham's mother appears. She is sleek and irritated, and she tells Brougham (whom she calls Alexander) that his father will be working late and that she has a friend over; they are not to be disturbed unless it's an emergency. She leaves without acknowledging Phillips. Brougham seems unsurprised by his mother's coldness and tells Phillips to lower her expectations with his parents.

They go to a back room where Brougham serves grapes, Brie, and crackers. Phillips pulls out three letters from her backpack and reads one aloud—a student asking how to ask out a younger acquaintance without coming across as a creep. Phillips analyzes the letter, noting that the writer is at least a sophomore, doesn't share friends with the girl, and is self-aware. Brougham challenges her on why she avoids using pronouns, suggesting the writer is likely male based on statistics. Phillips argues that there's no reason to guess gender when neutral language exists. Brougham eventually concedes she's right, though the exchange feels more like an argument than agreement.

Brougham then asks Phillips how she started the locker. She explains that she began in ninth grade by putting flyers in lockers offering free relationship advice, and that it snowballed from there. She now charges ten dollars per email. He asks why she stays anonymous, and Phillips internally reflects on her status as a scholarship student at a wealthy school, where she uses her locker income to afford an iPhone plan and thrift-store clothes to fit in. She also thinks about a past wrong she committed against Brooke, which she can never reveal because it would destroy their trust. She doesn't share these reasons with Brougham.

Suddenly, shouting erupts from elsewhere in the house—a man's angry voice, possibly Brougham's father. Brougham remains calm and ends the session, telling Phillips she wasn't prepared and that they should regroup later. Phillips leaves, feeling unsettled by the coldness of the household and the argument she overheard.

Key Events

Locker 89 responds to an email about relationship needs, reframing them as wants and advising communication as requests.
Phillips drives to Brougham's mansion and parks at the curb, feeling out of place.
Mrs. Brougham appears and coldly instructs her son not to disturb her, ignoring Phillips.
In a back room, Brougham serves grapes, Brie, and crackers while Phillips reads a letter about asking out a younger acquaintance.
Phillips and Brougham debate whether the letter writer's gender can be inferred; Phillips argues for neutrality, and Brougham concedes.
Brougham asks Phillips how she started the locker; she explains the flyer origin and her current fee.
Brougham asks why she stays anonymous; Phillips internally reflects on wealth disparity and a past wrong involving Brooke.
Shouting erupts from elsewhere in the house, and Brougham ends the session, saying Phillips wasn't prepared.
Phillips leaves, disturbed by the household's coldness and the argument.

Character Development

Phillips: This chapter deepens her internal conflict. She is proud of her locker advice but also aware of the ethical gray areas—she calls it “extortion” and feels the weight of her secret. Her reflection on wealth disparity shows her vulnerability: she uses the locker income to fit in at a school where affluence is the norm. The mention of Brooke hints at a past mistake that fuels her need for anonymity. Her discomfort with Brougham's family argument reveals a sensitive side, as she recalls her own childhood fears.
Brougham: He is portrayed as cold and dismissive, but also curious. He challenges Phillips on gender assumptions, then genuinely concedes when she makes a good point. His reaction to the shouting—remaining unruffled—suggests he is accustomed to family conflict. His comment about lowering expectations with his parents hints at a strained home life.
Mrs. Brougham: Though brief, her appearance establishes a cold, transactional family dynamic. She ignores Phillips entirely and speaks to her son with hostility, setting the tone for the household.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Wealth Disparity: Phillips's internal monologue about Fendi bags, Gucci skirts, and the pressure to upgrade iPhones highlights the economic gap between her and her classmates. The mansion itself symbolizes the unattainable wealth that Phillips must navigate.
Anonymity and Secrecy: The locker's anonymity is crucial to Phillips's identity. She fears that if people knew she ran it, they would treat her differently, and she specifically worries about Brooke discovering her past wrongdoing.
Communication in Relationships: The opening email and Phillips's advice emphasize the difference between needs and wants, and the importance of framing requests positively. This theme recurs in her interactions with Brougham, where communication is strained.
Gender-Neutral Language: The debate over pronouns underscores the importance of not assuming someone's gender, a value Phillips holds strongly.
Family Conflict: The shouting and Mrs. Brougham's coldness suggest a dysfunctional home life for Brougham, contrasting with Phillips's own (though divorced) parents.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for several reasons. It reveals the origin of Locker 89, showing how Phillips built her advice business from a simple flyer campaign. It also exposes the economic pressures that drive her to charge for advice, making her motivations more complex than simple altruism. The mention of Brooke introduces a significant secret that will likely have consequences later. Additionally, the chapter deepens the dynamic between Phillips and Brougham: their intellectual sparring over gender neutrality shows mutual respect emerging despite their adversarial start. The coldness of Brougham's household provides context for his personality, making him a more sympathetic figure. Finally, the chapter ends on a note of tension—Brougham dismisses Phillips as unprepared, leaving their arrangement uncertain and setting up future conflict.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Phillips choose to stay anonymous as Locker 89, and what does this reveal about her character?

Phillips stays anonymous because she fears that if her classmates knew she ran the locker, they would treat her differently—they might be embarrassed or resentful that she knows their secrets. More importantly, she has used the locker to do something awful to Brooke, and if Brooke ever found out, it would destroy their trust. This reveals that Phillips is deeply concerned about her social standing and her relationships, and that she carries guilt over a past mistake.

2. How does the debate about gender pronouns between Phillips and Brougham reflect their personalities?

Phillips argues that there is no reason to guess a person's gender when neutral language is available, showing her commitment to inclusivity and her refusal to make assumptions. Brougham initially relies on statistics, but he concedes when Phillips makes a logical point, demonstrating that he is willing to change his mind when presented with a sound argument. The exchange also shows Phillips's defensiveness—she feels challenged even when Brougham agrees with her—and Brougham's blunt, analytical style.

3. What does the shouting in Brougham's house suggest about his home life, and how does it affect Phillips?

The shouting suggests that Brougham's family is dysfunctional, with frequent arguments and emotional distance. Phillips is visibly unsettled by the noise, recalling her own childhood fears and the need to seek reassurance from Ainsley. This moment humanizes Brougham, hinting that his cold demeanor may be a result of his upbringing, and it also makes Phillips more empathetic toward him, even as she remains wary.