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Short Summary of On The Face of It:

In On the Face of It, 14-year-old Derry, with a burnt face, feels judged by others. He enters Mr. Lamb’s garden, where the old man with a tin leg talks to him kindly. Mr. Lamb teaches Derry to accept himself and not fear others’ opinions.

Derry leaves, but when he returns, he finds Mr. Lamb has fallen and died. Derry learns important lessons about self-acceptance and hope.

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Detailed Summary of On The Face of It:

Derry’s Visit to Mr. Lamb’s Garden: In On the Face of It, 14-year-old Derry, who has a burnt face, enters Mr. Lamb’s garden. He is cautious and unsure of what he will find. Mr. Lamb, an old man with a tin leg, notices Derry and calls out to him, warning him to be careful of the crab apples that have fallen to the ground.

Derry, surprised by Lamb’s voice, doesn’t know who he is and is unsure about staying. Mr. Lamb, however, is calm and friendly, telling Derry that anyone is welcome in his garden. He even mentions that the gate is always open for people to come in.

Derry’s Fears and Mr. Lamb’s Kindness: Derry admits that he thought the house was empty and was afraid of being judged. He says that people are afraid of him because of his face. He feels that everyone looks at him with pity, calling him ugly and staring at him.

Mr. Lamb listens to him carefully without any judgment. He comforts Derry that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Mr. Lamb doesn’t see Derry’s appearance as something to feel sorry for, and he shows kindness and understanding. Mr. Lamb also tells Derry that his face doesn’t make him any different from others, and everyone has something that makes them unique.

Mr. Lamb Shares His Story: Mr. Lamb shares his own story with Derry. He tells him that he lost his leg in the war and now uses a tin leg. Despite this, he doesn’t let it affect his life. He lives alone in his big house, but he enjoys his time in the garden and with the plants, even though some children call him “Lamey-Lamb” because of his tin leg.

Derry realizes that Mr. Lamb does not let his disability stop him from living happily. Mr. Lamb teaches Derry that physical differences are not what should define a person.

Mr. Lamb’s Wisdom and Derry’s Thoughts: As they continue talking, Mr. Lamb shares some wisdom with Derry. He explains that people often judge things based on appearances, like calling a plant a weed because it doesn’t look pretty.

But everything has value, just like Derry and Mr. Lamb. Mr. Lamb also tells Derry that people should not be afraid of others or be afraid to show themselves. He encourages Derry to embrace life, stop worrying about his face, and face the world with hope and positivity.

Derry’s Change of Heart: Derry starts to feel a bit better after their conversation. He says that he might return to Mr. Lamb’s garden and spend more time there. However, Derry’s mother, who is worried about him, tells him not to go back.

She is afraid of him being hurt by the world because of his appearance. Despite this, Derry feels a small spark of hope. He realizes that Mr. Lamb’s kindness has made him think differently about himself and the world.

Tragic Ending: Derry returns to Mr. Lamb’s garden the next time, but when he reaches the garden, he finds that Mr. Lamb has fallen from the ladder while picking apples. He is upset and calls out to him, but Mr. Lamb is silent.

Derry realizes that Mr. Lamb is dead, and he feels a deep sadness. However, Derry remembers all the important lessons Mr. Lamb shared with him about life and self-acceptance. He understands that he can still change his life and see the world differently.

Conclusion: The story ends with Derry crying over Mr. Lamb’s death, but he leaves the garden with a new understanding of life. He has learned that physical appearance does not define a person’s worth.

Through his time with Mr. Lamb, Derry finds hope for the future and learns that it’s important to embrace who you are and not fear others’ judgments.

Pointwise Summary:

-Derry, a 14-year-old boy with a burnt face, enters Mr. Lamb’s garden.

-Mr. Lamb, an old man with a tin leg, talks to Derry.

-Derry feels judged because of his face and believes people are afraid of him.

-Mr. Lamb is kind and understanding, treating Derry with no judgment.

-Mr. Lamb shares his story about losing his leg in the war but staying positive.

-Mr. Lamb teaches Derry that people shouldn’t be judged by their appearance.

-Derry learns from Mr. Lamb that self-acceptance is important, and everyone has something unique.

-Derry feels a little better and plans to come back to the garden.

-Derry’s mother warns him, afraid of how others will treat him because of his face.

-Derry returns to the garden but finds Mr. Lamb has fallen and died, leaving Derry with valuable lessons about life.