Student Question

In "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen, where does Beatrice take Roy after tying Dana to the flagpole?

Quick answer:

After tying Dana to the flagpole, Beatrice takes Roy to his house to gather medical supplies for her stepbrother, Mullet Fingers, who is suffering from a serious infection after being bitten by dogs. They deceive Roy's mother by claiming they are working on a science experiment. They then find Mullet Fingers in Jo Jo's Ice Cream Truck with a fever and decide to take him to the hospital while concealing his identity.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Beatrice and Dana were both bullies to Roy when he first moved to Coconut Cove, Florida. Dana bullied Roy for sport--he had a reputation for it. Beatrice was a bully to Roy because of his curiosity about the running boy, who is Beatrice's step brother. She did not want Roy finding out her brother's secret. Mullet Fingers had run away from boarding school.

In chapter 10, Beatrice helped Roy by tying Dana to a flagpole clad in only his underwear. Dana had been seeking revenge on Roy for punching him in the nose on the bus in chapter 2. Roy punched him because he was intent on finding out what the running boy was doing and had no time for Dana's humiliation. Beatrice intervened because she needed a favor from Roy. She thwarted Dana's plan for revenge so that Roy could help her with her step-brother. 

Mullet Fingers, whose real name is Napolean Bridger Leep, was bitten by dogs and suffered from a serious infection. Beatrice picked Roy up on her bicycle, and they traveled to Roy's house to get medical supplies to treat Mullet Finger's arm. They lie to Roy's mom so she won't suspect anything, saying they are working on a science experiment. 

They find Mullet Fingers in Jo Jo's Ice Cream Truck, suffering a fever and swollen arm from the dog bite. They decide they must take him to the hospital and lie about his identity. 

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial