Answer:
Find the explanation below.
Explanation:
In the book, "Next Time We'll Mash You" by Penelope Lively lines 52-59 offers a description of the young boy Charles who was to resume school at St. Edward's Preparatory School. He was smartly dressed and his mother cared about his looks. That was why when he came out of the car with his ruffled hair, his mom offered to comb it. He was also apprehensive at the prospect of being in a new school. This is revealed in lines 59.
All right, Charles? You didn’t get sick in the car, did you?”The child had black hair, slicked down smooth to his head. His ears, too large, jutted out, transparent in the light from the window, laced with tiny, delicate veins. His clothes had the shine and crease of newness. He looked at the books, the dark brown pictures, his parents, said nothing.“Come here, let me tidy your hair.”The door opened. The child hesitated, stood up, sat, then rose again with his father.
In lines 79-111, there is evidence that Charles does not have much social life as indicated by his colour which looks pale when he is outside. This looks like a person who is always indoors.
I feel Charles is scared of being at the school but because of his reserved nature, he is not able to tell this to his parents. When he heard the voice in the background say, "Next term we'll mash you", he was apparently scared at what that could mean.
