Yes, the second man is a mystery. Why did Foley stop for Selby at all but then why not? Most people would have. Selby wasn't to know there was anything fishy about the other man.
I still think Foley was simply covering himself so that he could say to Selby if necessary and in a roundabout way not to mention the other man. Disquieting enough on its own and not what you'd expect from a teacher especially from that kind of rigid environment.
Children who'd had experience of being sexually threatened would recognise it in fiction; I still don't think a 13 year old who hadn't would think of it and I can't see why they would unless it's made explicit. Perhaps I was a particularly niaive child but I clearly missed out on references that were obvious on returning to the same book as an adult.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-06-22 09:59 am (UTC)I still think Foley was simply covering himself so that he could say to Selby if necessary and in a roundabout way not to mention the other man. Disquieting enough on its own and not what you'd expect from a teacher especially from that kind of rigid environment.
Children who'd had experience of being sexually threatened would recognise it in fiction; I still don't think a 13 year old who hadn't would think of it and I can't see why they would unless it's made explicit. Perhaps I was a particularly niaive child but I clearly missed out on references that were obvious on returning to the same book as an adult.