In chapter Thirteen, Saul describes a situation involving a small creek near the school. How does he describe the students’ interaction with the fish from the creek? Why is this episode so upsetting to them? What are the fish symbolic of?

The creek connects these kids to their roots and their identity that was snatched away from them. They play in the creek and catch a fish. The smell and feel of the fish takes them back to a place of their family where nature and family life were one. They rub the fish all over themselves, basking in the smell of memories as long as they can before they must return to the antiseptic oppression of the school.