In chapter eighteen, Stanley begins writing a letter to his parents after a challenging day of digging and pauses when he feels someone's presence behind him. Stanley turns around to discover that Zero is looking over his shoulder at the letter he is writing. Stanley then decides to continue writing and mentions that he doesn't care what Zero thinks because Zero is a "nobody." Stanley's comment reveals that his hostile environment is making him callous and insensitive.
When Stanley tells Zero that he doesn't like it when he reads over his shoulder, Zero responds by saying that he doesn't know how to read. When Zero asks Stanley if he can teach him to read, Stanley responds by saying, "Sorry...I don't know how to teach" (Sachar, 36). Stanley refuses to teach Zero to read for several reasons. Stanley is too tired after a long day of digging to teach Zero how to read. In addition to not having the energy to teach Zero how to read, Stanley does not know how to educate others and has a low opinion of Zero.
One night in the tent, Stanley is writing a letter home to his mom. All of a sudden, Stanley is interrupted. He feels a presence in the tent; it's Zero peering over his shoulder. Stanley's not very happy about it; he feels that Zero is being rude by invading his privacy. But he needn't worry because Zero is illiterate so can't read what Stanley was writing anyway.
Zero wants Stanley to teach him how to read and write. However, Stanley flat out refuses to help; he coldly tells Zero that he doesn't know how to teach. But that's not the real reason. Stanley won't help out Zero because he doesn't consider him that important anymore. After a hard day's digging, he has neither the strength nor the energy to teach Zero, even if he wanted to. Instead, he saves what little energy he has left for the people who matter, like his mom.
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