The primary reason Derry avoids people is his deep insecurity and self-consciousness about his appearance, particularly his disfigured face due to a burn. He feels that people stare at him with pity or disgust, which makes him uncomfortable and fuels ...

Derry first meets Mr. Lamb in Mr. Lamb’s garden, where Derry has wandered in by chance, seeking solitude. Derry, a young boy with a burned face, initially feels uneasy and defensive upon meeting the elderly Mr. Lamb, fearing he’ll face ...