Reading Check

1. “Beautiful” (Part 1)

2. 12 (Part 1)

3. That there was, “at once the impression of organization, very different from the old happy-go-lucky ways under his leadership” (Part 2)

4. To “burn [it] […] one by one” (Part 2)

5. He says to Old Misery, “There’s nothing personal, but you got to admit it’s funny.” (Part 4)

Short Answer

1. “Old Misery” is the name that the Wormsley Common Gang call Thomas, an older man who lives in one of the few surviving houses from the Blitz. The boys view him with suspicion but do not hate him personally. (Part 1)

2. After arriving at a voting meeting late, T shares with the gang that he went inside Old Misery’s house. Although the boys initially assume that he was interested in stealing from the old man, T reveals that he actually wants to “destroy it.” The group is intrigued and after organizing their approach, they agree to meet on the Bank Holiday in order to begin the destruction. (Part 1)

3. As the gang continues their second day of destruction, Mike rushes in to tell them that, due to bad weather, Old Misery is returning from his holiday early. After a moment of indecision regarding T’s leadership and the feasibility of the plan, the boys decide to carry on with the support of Blackie.