Theme - Women

Before his mother died - His mother is the central/main focus relationship with women.
- Due to his mother illness he is the carer
-Roles switched, he now takes the carer role for his mother.

Page 11 - "I'll keep sharp object out of proximity"
- Anaphoric referencing saying that she is vulnerable to 'draw blood' where he really cares about his mother and to remove hazards that may cause harm to her.
- Furthermore the roles have been subverted where the stereotypical idea of mothers taking away hazards from children is reminded here. Instead of his mother doing this, he has adapted due to her illness.

Page 111- "The twenty-nine-year-old, an actual woman woman"
- The fact that she is nameless suggests that she is such an unlikely woman to be dating Dave that her identity is shaded and ignored due to his shocked emotions about her age. This could also show her importance in his life as the reader isn't introduced to her name.
- He feels that he doesn't fit in the adult world so he sees her as a ticket to look the part + it seems like he's treating her like an accessory to show her off.
-The determiner 'actual' shows his disbelief that he managed to capture her. She could be used as bragging rights.

Page 110 - " If she brings Toph something, for instance ping pong balls... then she is loved unconditionally"
- Shows his logic in choosing a perfect woman in his life as well as Tophs. He has like a psychological criteria in which he judges womens qualities to help benefit him and Tophs life, where it could have been because of his mothers unfortunate death had clouded his judgement with women.