In this passage from "The Gathering" by Kelley Armstrong, the narrator interacts with Mrs. Morris while attempting to leave the classroom under the pretense of going to the washroom. Despite the unspoken understanding of his intent, Mrs. Morris playfully acknowledges his gesture, indicating a level of trust between them. The narrator reflects on the nature of their school environment, implying that truancy is not an issue at their institution.

The narrator contemplates the limitations on where a student could go if they chose to skip class, highlighting the absence of typical teenage hangouts like malls or coffee shops. Instead, he suggests that every local spot is familiar, making it difficult for students to evade detection when they should be in school. This emphasizes the close-knit community feel of their surroundings and the inevitability of being caught if one attempts to misbehave.