Chapter 121: Late-Night Phone Calls – Lizzie Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This summary contains spoilers for Chapter 121 of Releasing 10 (The Boys of Tommen) by Chloe Walsh. Read only after finishing the chapter.
Summary
Lizzie feels bitter about being held back in primary school while her boyfriend Hugh starts first year at Tommen. She is older and more physically mature than her classmates, bored with the easy curriculum, and unable to relate to ten-year-olds who still play with dolls. When Hugh finally calls after his first day, he describes a hectic school with rugby trials that ended with him, Kav, Feely, and Gibs making the team. Hearing Gibs’ name stabs Lizzie, but she suppresses her jealousy and changes the subject. Hugh reassures her that she is the only girl he wants, even though she admits she is not the easiest girlfriend.
Key Events
- Lizzie reflects on being left behind academically and socially, stuck in fifth class at age thirteen while Hugh advances.
- She contrasts her own physical maturity (shaving, menstrual cycles, relationship) with her ten- and eleven-year-old classmates.
- Lizzie receives a phone call from Hugh after his first day at Tommen.
- Hugh shares details about his day, including making the school rugby team with Kav, Feely, and Gibs.
- Lizzie feels a sharp stab of pain when hearing Gibs’ name but forces herself to congratulate Hugh.
- She quickly steers the conversation away from Gibs and asks about teachers and girls in his class.
- Hugh teases her, then firmly states he has no interest in other girls and wants only her.
Character Development
Lizzie Young is portrayed as isolated by her advanced age, maturity, and traumatic past. Her inability to connect with peers deepens her depression. The phone call reveals her vulnerability: she desperately needs Hugh’s reassurance but fears pushing him away. She suppresses her jealousy of Gibs, indicating a pattern of internalizing pain to maintain relationships. Hugh shows patience and loyalty, understanding Lizzie’s insecurities and offering consistent comfort.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Isolation and Maturity: Lizzie’s physical and emotional maturity sets her apart from her classmates. She feels she has nothing in common with them, which reinforces her sense of being an outsider.
- Jealousy and Insecurity: Hearing Gibs’ name triggers a visceral reaction in Lizzie, highlighting her fear of losing Hugh. She struggles to express her true feelings, choosing silence to avoid conflict.
- Education as a Metaphor for Progress: The gap between primary and secondary school symbolizes Lizzie’s feeling of being left behind in life, not just in academics.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens our understanding of Lizzie’s internal world and the roots of her bitterness. It foreshadows future tensions between Lizzie and Hugh’s friend group, especially around Johnny “Gibs” Gibson. Lizzie’s suppressed jealousy and Hugh’s reassurances set up a dynamic that will likely be tested as the story progresses. Additionally, the chapter reinforces the novel’s theme of trauma and its long-term impact on relationships.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Lizzie feel so out of place in fifth class?
She is older than her classmates (turning fourteen in sixth class), physically mature (shaving, menstruating), and mentally bored by the easy material. Her childhood was consumed by medical appointments and trauma, leaving her unable to relate to typical ten- or eleven-year-old interests.
2. How does Lizzie react when Hugh mentions Gibs, and what does this reveal about her?
She feels a stabbing pain in her chest and can barely breathe, but forces out a congratulations. This reveals her intense jealousy of Gibs and her fear that pushing Hugh away might cost her the only person she feels is truly on her side.
3. What does Hugh’s response to Lizzie’s question about other girls show about their relationship?
Hugh immediately reassures Lizzie that she is the only girl he wants, without reservation. This shows his commitment and patience, but also hints at a pattern where Lizzie’s insecurities require constant reassurance to maintain the relationship.