His Mother’s Influence

Question 1

A little too ornate for my taste - vulgar almost

Answer 1

This is Neil hearing his mother’s opinion in his head because she is his biggest influence at the moment

Question 2

Now you’ll be at school with the sons of doctors and lawyers

Answer 2

This is Neil’s mum’s opinion and she’s really impressed/pleased that he will be going to a posh (middle-class) school where he will make posh friends

Question 3

The fact is,’ said Neil, ‘I’ve got my period.

Answer 3

That is the culmination of Neil’s excuses that he tells embarrassingly to Michael’s mum: a) because it is his mum’s excuse he had heard her say b) he is desperate to avoid showing his skin.
He is quite a sheltered boy and doesn’t realise that this excuse isn’t appropriate

Question 4

With a torch

Answer 4

His mum is an usher in a cinema and the light that she shines with her torch would be narrow. This suggests that Neil’s mum’s advice and viewpoint is a little limited and it takes Mrs Wan’s experienced world viewpoint to reassure Neil about his skin condition

Question 5

Inside was a another ball with just as intricately carved mandarins and elephants and palm leaves, with another one inside that again.

Answer 5

Neil is trapped ‘inside’ the layers of his mother’s advice just like the intricately carved lace balls, one inside the other. His mother keeps him off school, deepening his shame.