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One side of Derry’s face was burnt with acid. He feels that it ate him, ate his face and now it is like this and it won’t ever be any different. His physical impairment changed his behaviour and his attitude towards life. He avoids seeing and meeting people. He feels that he is not afraid of people but people are afraid of him because of his face.
When people see his face they say that is bad and a terrible ugly think. They call him a poor boy, which he thinks he is not. He entered Mr. Lamb’s garden thinking that it was empty. When he looks in the mirror, he is afraid of him. Derry does not like being with people. Derry hates certain people who talk about his face in the most unsympathetic manner like that is a face only a mother could love.
Mr. Lamb’s one leg was blown off in war and he has got a tin leg. But his physical impairment does not make him secluded and he loves to meet and talk to people. He always keeps his door open and has put no curtains on the window of his house. Though some kids call him ‘Lamey-Lamb’ but it does not trouble him. Mr. Lamb has friends everywhere. When Mr. Lamb goes down the street, the kids shout “Lamey-Lamb”. But they still come into the garden, into his house. They are not afraid of him because he is not afraid of them.