The flashbacks in chapter one

When Delrita arrives back home, she's greeted by her uncle, Punky, who was born with Down's syndrome. Still thinking about Avanelle and how nice it would be to have a friend, Delrita remembers the one time in second grade that she brought a friend home from school. The girl was so terrified of Punky that she ran out of the house, screaming. Delrita has sworn to never go through that again.