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Chapter 86
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Noughts and Crosses, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism, Division, and Tragedy
Awareness and Privilege
Love, Lust, Power, and Violence
Friendship
Youth, Innocence, and Growing Up
Family
Summary
Analysis
Sephy is convinced Callum is going to come for her—but as Mother shouts for Sephy to get in the car, she realizes he isn’t. As Sephy turns to the car, Minnie runs up behind her. Sephy tells Minnie she wishes Minnie could come to Chivers too, but Minnie says it’s too close to exams for her to switch schools (Mother’s argument). Sephy tells Minnie to stop caring so much about what other people think, and Minnie tells Sephy to stop drinking. Sephy agrees that she stopped for a while (after cuddling with Callum), but then started again because she was lonely. Minnie tells Sephy to stop trying to be like Mother. She kisses Sephy on the cheek.
It's heartbreaking for Sephy to realize that her plan isn’t going to work: Callum isn’t coming for her. And it’s even more heartbreaking to realize that Minnie has gone out of her way to help Sephy, but isn’t going to get anything that she wants out of the deal. But this does show Sephy that Minnie is in her corner and will support her—whether it’s helping Sephy leave their dysfunctional house, or helping her think more critically about why she’s drinking.
Themes
Sephy slides into the car next to Mother. Why didn’t Callum come? Does he not believe in her, or is he just more sensible?
Sephy wondering if Callum is just “more sensible” is essentially an acknowledgement that inviting him to run away was childish—she’s becoming aware of how young she is.
Themes
