Noughts and Crosses: Chapter 25 Summary & Analysis

Back in the present, Sephy asks if Callum was thinking of the police officers. He doesn’t deny it, and Sephy thinks they would upset her too, if she was in his shoes. Callum says he wants to remember the day as a good day, once they got to the park. Sephy knows he’s lying. He wants to connect what happened on the train to Mother not letting him in. Sephy’s sure of it; she’s not naïve anymore. She’s growing up. But she’s also afraid to ask Callum what he’s actually thinking. And honestly, her main memory of the day is of feeling ashamed of how the officers treated Callum, and of herself. She resents Callum for making her feel this way. She shouldn’t feel guilty for just existing.

Sephy’s head fills with questions. Why are nought men and women always portrayed badly in old films? Why aren’t noughts in the news unless it’s bad news? These days, Sephy pays attention to how Crosses and noughts speak to “their ‘own’ kind.” They relax with others like them, and are afraid around people who are different. Life used to be easy, but Sephy suspects those happy days are gone.

Callum says it was a good day at the park. Sephy agrees—but it’s not the truth. She wishes Callum would say what he’s thinking, but he doesn’t. Sephy sighs that it’ll be winter soon; this means that Mother won’t let her down on the beach as often. Callum asks who beat Sephy up. Sephy refuses to say; she can’t do anything to get back at them. But she finally tells Callum. Callum assures her he won’t do anything; he’s “a lowly nought,” after all. Sephy tells him to stop—she’s not his enemy. They both apologize.