The Intruder, Chapter 28: Anton’s Lockpicking Lesson

⚠️ 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

Ella meets Anton after school to work on their science project. He has quit smoking and gives her his green lighter to hold. They walk to his apartment, playing a game of skipping over cracks. Ella asks why Anton provoked Devin; Anton explains he emptied Devin’s backpack and insulted his mother—for fun. At Anton’s apartment, he shows his handwritten notes, which are filled with backward letters and misspellings. Ella offers to help him rewrite them, reassuring him that everyone learns differently. His younger brother Brad enters and teases them; Anton playfully locks Brad in the closet. Brad easily picks the lock, revealing it’s a game. Ella, initially terrified, calms down after learning the truth. Anton admits he knows how to pick locks, and Ella asks him to teach her.

Key Events

Anton reveals he has quit smoking and gives his lighter to Ella for safekeeping.
On the walk, Ella learns Anton provoked Devin by emptying his backpack and insulting his mother, purely for fun.
Anton shows his project notes, which have backward letters and poor spelling; Ella recognizes possible learning difficulties.
Ella helps Anton organize the project and tells him he is smart, a first for him.
Anton’s brother Brad enters; Anton locks him in the closet as a game, but Brad picks the lock and escapes.
Ella panics but realizes it’s harmless play; Anton demonstrates his lockpicking skill.
Ella asks Anton to teach her lockpicking.

Character Development

Ella: Her panicked reaction to Brad’s confinement shows her sensitivity to being locked in, likely linked to her own mother’s abuse. She also shows patience and empathy by helping Anton with his project despite his learning struggles. Her request to learn lockpicking hints at a growing trust and a desire for new skills.
Anton: He becomes more vulnerable, admitting he “sucks at school” and struggling with handwriting. His playful side emerges with Brad, revealing a protective but mischievous brother. His offer of the lighter and quitting smoking suggest he is trying to change for the better.
Brad: The brief appearance adds warmth to Anton’s home life and shows that Anton’s “bad boy” image is partly a facade.
Devin (offstage) : Mentioned to contrast with Anton’s bullying; Devin’s retaliation (the black eye) underscores Anton’s recklessness.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Learning differences & empathy: Anton’s backward letters and spelling errors point to undiagnosed dyslexia or a similar condition. Ella’s understanding (“Everyone’s brain works differently”) challenges stereotypes about intelligence.
Locking/unlocking as control: Brad’s lockpicking game subverts the usual terror of confinement; it symbolizes agency and trust in a home where adults may be unpredictable.
Smoking & lighters: Anton quitting smoking and giving away his lighter signals a break from bad habits. The lighter itself becomes a token of trust between him and Ella.
Domestic violence: Anton’s comment about his dad “coming at him or his brother” reminds readers of the underlying threat of abuse, which his lockpicking skill is meant to counter.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 28 deepens the bond between Ella and Anton, moving beyond a school project into genuine friendship and mutual support. Anton’s learning difficulties humanize him, and his playful side with Brad reveals layers beneath the rebel persona. The lockpicking scene is pivotal: it teaches Ella (and the reader) that not all locked doors are dangerous—and that Anton’s skills could prove useful later. The chapter also reinforces the theme of abused children finding small ways to protect themselves and each other.

Study Questions & Answers

1. How does Ella’s reaction to Brad being locked in the closet reveal her own past?
Ella screams at Anton and tries to force the door open, near tears. Her extreme fear suggests she associates being trapped with her mother’s cruelty (e.g., being locked in the bathroom). It shows she projects her own trauma onto Brad.

2. What do Anton’s project notes tell the reader about his struggles?
The notes contain backward letters and frequent misspellings, resembling a much younger child’s writing. This, combined with his statement “I suck at school,” strongly indicates a possible learning disability, such as dyslexia, that has gone unaddressed.

3. Why does Anton give Ella his lighter?
He says he needs it “away from me” to avoid relapsing into smoking. By trusting Ella with the lighter, he shows he values their partnership and wants to prove he can change.