Chapter 32 Summary: Woody & Tina
⚠️ 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 Woody and Tina walking Belle to her Metaverse school, holding her hands as they approach the gates. The morning has been dominated by news coverage of Jaden Wilson's murder and the termination of his son, Malachi. Critics of the show are outraged that Malachi's death occurred off-screen, and Woody and Tina fear the backlash could lead to the show being cancelled, which would have unknown consequences for Belle. Their anxiety is eased when producers and the channel's chief executive release a statement in the Real World, insisting that Jaden's death was unrelated to the show and that no actual murder was witnessed by viewers. They also argue that because no legislation protects avatars, terminating Malachi was not a crime—it is impossible to kill something that never lived. The communications regulator OFCOM agrees, leaving the show free to continue.
As they approach the school, Belle's hand tightens in Tina's through her haptic gloves. Belle is not shy but lacks the confidence of her Real World sister, Issy. Tina reflects that both girls are trapped in worlds of their parents' making. Tina had chosen this school from a catalogue of Metaverse educational facilities, which range from an International Space Station to Hawaiian rice terraces. The quality of teaching scales with the amount of in-App purchases contestants spend from their prize fund, and Woody and Tina have opted for a more traditional, lower-fee school.
Earlier, away from the cameras, Tina questioned why an AI child needs to attend school at all, given that Belle could simply download all information. Woody explains that information costs, and that a balance of learning from parents and online is necessary. He also reminds her that the experience is meant to mimic raising a real child, which includes school. Tina worries about viewers watching Belle all day, but Woody mentions that viewers can pay for immersive educational experiences, such as digitally rendered David Attenborough or reanimated historical figures.
Tina's attachment to Belle is growing stronger each day. She sometimes daydreams of Belle being a real child rather than coding. Woody, meanwhile, is struck by how quickly time is passing—they are near the halfway mark of the experiment, and his second chance at parenthood feels too fast.
Belle stops at the school entrance and refuses to go inside, saying she wants to stay with her parents. Tina crouches down and reassures her, promising she will make friends and learn new things. As Tina stands, she feels a sharp tug in her lower back—the wound where Issy stabbed her with a metal fork a fortnight earlier. She recalls the incident: Woody helped her upstairs, she saw the blood, and they cleaned and stitched the wound themselves. Woody suggested going to A&E, but Tina refused, fearing that the truth—that their daughter stabbed her—would lead to speculation of domestic abuse, especially now they are in the public eye.
A teacher interrupts Tina's recollection and invites them into the classroom. Belle soon forgets her anxiety when another girl, presumably also AI-operated, approaches her, and they run to the arts and crafts corner. Tina watches the moving images of children's drawings on the walls and wishes Belle could stay this age forever. Then she shivers, remembering that this was the age Issy was when Tina discovered the truth about her.
Key Events
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The news coverage of Jaden Wilson's murder and Malachi's termination dominates the morning, causing Woody and Tina to fear the show might be cancelled.
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Producers and the channel's CEO release a statement asserting that Jaden's death was unrelated to the show and that no crime was committed because avatars have no legal protection. OFCOM agrees.
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Woody and Tina walk Belle to her Metaverse school, which Tina selected from a catalogue of educational options.
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Tina questions the need for an AI child to attend school, and Woody explains the concept of information costs and the importance of mimicking real parenting.
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Belle refuses to enter the school, but Tina reassures her.
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Tina experiences a flashback to the incident where Issy stabbed her with a fork, and she and Woody secretly treated the wound to avoid public scrutiny.
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A teacher invites them inside, and Belle joins another girl at the arts and crafts corner.
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Tina wishes Belle could stay young forever, then remembers that this was the age Issy was when Tina discovered the truth about her.
Character Development
Tina is shown to be deeply attached to Belle, despite knowing she is an AI. Her daydreams of Belle being flesh and blood reveal a growing emotional investment that blurs the line between artificial and real. Her decision to hide the stabbing incident from medical professionals demonstrates her prioritisation of public image over her own safety, and her willingness to endure pain to protect the show. The memory of Issy at the same age as Belle triggers a shiver, suggesting unresolved trauma and a fear that Belle might follow a similar path.
Woody is more pragmatic, focusing on the practicalities of the experiment. He understands the need for school and the balance of learning, and he is acutely aware of the accelerated growth that makes their time with Belle feel fleeting. His role as a supportive partner is evident when he helps Tina with her wound, but he also respects her decision to avoid A&E.
Belle is portrayed as nervous and lacking confidence compared to her Real World sister, Issy. Her reluctance to enter school shows her dependence on her parents, but she quickly adapts when another child approaches her, indicating a capacity for social connection.
Issy is present only through memory, but her violent act—stabbing Tina—looms large, shaping Tina's current decisions and fears.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
AI Termination Legality: The chapter directly addresses the legal vacuum surrounding avatars. The producers' argument that Malachi was never alive because he was never human highlights the ethical ambiguity of the show. This theme questions what constitutes life and murder in a digital context.
Metaverse Education Commodification: The school system is presented as a marketplace where higher fees buy better teaching. This commodification of education mirrors real-world inequalities and critiques the monetisation of every aspect of the MetaChildren experience.
Parental Attachment to AI Children: Tina's growing love for Belle, despite knowing she is code, explores the human capacity to form emotional bonds with artificial beings. Her wish for Belle to remain young forever underscores the pain of watching a child grow—and the added poignancy of accelerated growth.
Accelerated Growth: Woody's awareness of time passing quickly serves as a reminder of the artificial nature of the experiment. The rapid aging of Belle contrasts with the slow, natural development of a real child, intensifying the emotional stakes.
Information Costs: Woody's explanation that information costs in the Metaverse introduces a motif of knowledge as a commodity. This ties into the broader theme of how the show monetises every aspect of life, including education.
Concealing Domestic Incidents: Tina's decision to hide the stabbing from authorities reflects a motif of secrecy and image management. It shows how the public eye forces contestants to suppress truth, potentially enabling further harm.
AI vs Real Child Comparison: Tina's memory of Issy at the same age creates a direct parallel between Belle and her real daughter. This comparison raises questions about whether Belle will exhibit similar behaviours, and whether Tina can separate her past trauma from her current parenting.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the novel's exploration of the ethical and emotional consequences of raising AI children. It directly addresses the legal status of avatars, showing how the show's producers manipulate public perception to avoid accountability. The school setting introduces a new dimension of the Metaverse—education as a purchasable commodity—and highlights the lengths to which contestants must go to simulate normal parenting.
The chapter also advances Tina's character arc by revealing her internal conflict: she loves Belle but is haunted by her experience with Issy. The stabbing flashback adds a layer of tension, suggesting that Belle might repeat Issy's violence, and that Tina's fear of public scrutiny could lead her to ignore warning signs. This sets up potential future conflicts and raises the stakes for the remainder of the experiment.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the show's response to Malachi's termination reflect the legal and ethical treatment of AI avatars?
The producers and the channel's CEO argue that because no legislation protects avatars, terminating Malachi was not a crime—it is impossible to kill something that never lived. OFCOM agrees, highlighting the absence of legal frameworks for digital beings. This response reveals that the show operates in a legal grey area, where the value of an AI life is determined by public perception and corporate interests rather than inherent rights.
2. Why does Tina choose to hide the stabbing incident from medical professionals, and what does this reveal about her priorities?
Tina fears that if she goes to A&E, the truth—that her daughter stabbed her—would lead to speculation of domestic abuse, which could harm her public image and the show's reputation. She prioritises the appearance of a stable family over her own physical well-being. This decision shows her commitment to the experiment and her willingness to endure pain to avoid scrutiny, but it also suggests a dangerous pattern of suppressing problems.
3. What does Tina's memory of Issy at the same age as Belle foreshadow?
Tina's shiver when she remembers that Belle is the same age Issy was when Tina discovered the truth about her suggests that Belle might exhibit similar troubling behaviour. It foreshadows potential conflict and raises the question of whether Belle, as an AI, could replicate Issy's violence. This memory also indicates that Tina's past trauma may influence her perception of Belle, potentially leading to overreaction or neglect.
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