Unknown (main narrator, possibly Aaron Tracy)

Dahl understood on the deepest level what it means to be alone in a crowded room, to feel that no one truly sees you.

And he poured that lonely truth into characters who burrowed into the minds of millions of young readers who felt exactly the same way.

Dahl's mother had no choice but to become a fierce protector of her kids, especially Dahl, her beloved only son.

Now, it's no surprise that Dahl would act out in school.

This is before someone in Dahl's situation would be taken to therapy three times a week.

He lost his father and sister.

Of course he's acting out.

On one particular day of really egregious misbehavior, Dahl and his friends receive a vicious caning.

He describes the headmaster holding up a long yellow cane, which curves around the top like a walking stick.

The headmaster tells the boys to line up against his bookcase.

Dahl describes the large adult man raising the cane high above his shoulder and bringing it down with a loud swishing sound.

And then there's a crack, like a pistol shot, as it hits a boy's bottom.

Each boy receives four strokes, and even worse, each one is forced to watch the other boys suffer before it's their turn.

Dahl goes last, so his anticipation is off the charts.

He's forced to bend over, grabbing the floor with his hands, he writes in his memoir.

Isn't that the greatest?

I'm going out.

Of course, we all know where she's headed.

When she returns later, she explains to young Dahl what happened.

She went to see the headmaster at his home.