"You can't," Tommy insists. "Please, there is going to be enough trouble trying to get out of here. Just... please just talk. I don't know what's going to happen now. If Frank leaves, do I go with him? Do I stay with Mary? Can they just... can they just get rid of me?"

Maybe he should run away. That's what kids his age did, right? Not like he got what he needed at home. But where would he go? How would he feed himself? He doesn't doubt that his parents wouldn't bother searching for him. It would be a relief.