Mike · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Mike by P. G. Wodehouse.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The book is dedicated to Alan Durand.
Chapter 2
Mike
Mike Jackson, a young cricketer, arrives at Wrykyn School and navigates the social and athletic hierarchies. He forms a bond with Wyatt, faces the headmaster's authority, and earns his place on the First Eleven, while dealing with the rivalry and camaraderie of school life.
Chapter 3
I: Mike
The Jackson family breakfasts in silence before the cricket season. News arrives that Mike will attend Wrykyn next term. Mike's sister Marjory and the family professional Saunders discuss Mike's cricket talent and his chances of making the school team. Mike arrives late, and the family celebrates his upcoming enrollment.
Chapter 4
The Journey Down
Mike Jackson travels alone to Wrykyn, where he meets Firby-Smith (Gazeka) on the train and accidentally throws his bag out the window. Bob Jackson joins them at East Wobsley, and the three discuss school life, including Wyatt's difficult situation with his stepfather and housemaster, Mr. Wain.
Chapter 5
III: Mike Finds a Friendly Native
Mike arrives at Wrykyn station and is left by his brother Bob and Firby-Smith to find his own way to the school. After getting lost, he meets Wyatt, a friendly and confident student from Wain's house. Wyatt takes Mike for tea, shows him around the school grounds, and introduces him to his new dormitory. Mike learns about Wyatt's nightly escapades with an air-pistol and is warned not to join him.
Chapter 6
At the Nets
Mike Jackson gets his first chance to prove his batting skills at Wrykyn. Wyatt introduces him to Burgess, the cricket captain, who allows him to bat in the nets. Mike performs well, impressing Burgess and earning a place in the Under Sixteen team and later the third eleven. The chapter highlights the transition to public school life and the importance of cricket in establishing one's place.
Chapter 7
Revelry by Night
Mike's early success at cricket makes him restless and rebellious. After receiving patronizing advice from his brother Bob and the head of house Firby-Smith, he feels stifled. When Wyatt sneaks out for a moonlit prowl, Mike stays behind but decides to explore the house. He finds Mr. Wain's dining room, eats leftovers, and impulsively plays a gramophone, which alerts Mr. Wain. Mike escapes through a window just in time.
Chapter 8
In Which a Tight Corner Is Evaded
Mike sneaks out of his dormitory at night to warn Wyatt that Mr. Wain is on the prowl, but when he is caught by the housemaster, he improvises a story about a burglar to cover his tracks. Wyatt joins the ruse, and together they manage to evade punishment, though Mr. Wain remains suspicious and threatens severe consequences if they leave their dormitory again.
Chapter 9
VII: In Which Mike Is Discussed
Trevor and Clowes discuss the potential pitfalls of having a younger brother at the same school, focusing on Mike Jackson. They worry that Mike's friendship with Wyatt, who is known for breaking rules, could lead to trouble. Trevor later speaks to Bob Jackson, who is more concerned about cricket scores than his brother's behavior, and Bob mentions he has already spoken to Mike and asked Firby-Smith to keep an eye on him.
Chapter 10
A Row with the Town
After the Old Wrykynian matches, a supper at the Great Hall leads to a traditional dance around a lamppost, which escalates into a fight when town youths pelt the schoolboys with tomatoes. Wyatt leads the school in a brawl that ends with two prisoners being thrown into a pond, inadvertently dragging a policeman in as well.
Chapter 11
Before the Storm
The headmaster cancels a school holiday in response to Constable Butt's exaggerated report of being thrown into a pond by a large group of boys, sparking widespread indignation. Wyatt emerges as a leader, persuading Neville-Smith and others to defy the punishment by taking the holiday anyway, setting the stage for the Great Picnic.
Chapter 12
The Great Picnic
On Friday morning, the school day begins with a strange emptiness. Day-boys arrive to find no boarders present, and the masters discover that their form-rooms are nearly empty. The masters gather in the Common Room, puzzled and amused, speculating that the entire school has rebelled against the headmaster's decision to cancel the holiday. They discuss the unprecedented situation and head to the Great Hall to learn the orders of the day.
Chapter 13
XI: The Conclusion of the Picnic
The chapter describes the aftermath of the Great Picnic, focusing on the headmaster's calm and methodical response to the mass absence. He calls the roll in the nearly empty Great Hall, then dismisses the masters to enjoy the day while he supervises the remaining boys. The narrative also recounts the picnic itself: Wyatt's organization of the march to Worfield, the lunch for 550 at the inn, and the orderly return to school, with Bob Jackson meeting Wyatt at the gate.
Chapter 14
Mike Gets His Chance
Wyatt advocates for Mike to be selected for the first eleven cricket team against M.C.C., persuading captain Billy Burgess to give him a chance. Meanwhile, the headmaster punishes the entire school for the picnic row by assigning extra lessons, but younger boys receive a caning instead. Mike learns he cannot play in the match due to his punishment, yet his name appears on the team list, creating a bittersweet turn of events.
Chapter 15
The M.C.C. Match
Mike plays for the school first eleven as a substitute in the match against M.C.C. He overcomes his initial nervousness when he meets Saunders, the family's old professional, and his brother Joe. Mike scores a half-century and helps secure a draw, earning praise from Joe and the M.C.C. wicket-keeper.
Chapter 16
A Slight Imbroglio
Mike earns his third eleven colours and gets a chance in the first eleven, but his success goes to his head. After a house match incident where Firby-Smith's patronizing attitude provokes Mike into calling him a 'grinning ape,' Firby-Smith demands a prefects' meeting to punish him. Burgess, the head of school, hesitates and delays the decision.
Chapter 17
Mike Creates a Vacancy
Burgess, the cricket captain, struggles with the decision to drop Bob Jackson from the team in favor of a bowler, and also deals with the fallout from Mike's altercation with Firby-Smith. Bob intervenes to smooth things over, and Mike, feeling grateful, fakes a wrist injury to withdraw from the match, allowing Bob to take his place.
Chapter 18
An Expert Examination
Mike's Uncle John visits Wrykyn and discovers that Mike has faked a wrist injury to allow his brother Bob to play for the first eleven. After a day on the river, they learn that Wrykyn has won and Bob scored 48 runs, prompting Uncle John to silently reward Mike with a sovereign.
Chapter 19
Another Vacancy
Bob Jackson's poor fielding leads to a conversation with Burgess about moving to the deep. Meanwhile, an outbreak of chickenpox spreads through the school after Shoeblossom visits an infected confectioner's shop, eventually sidelining several students including first eleven player Marsh. This creates a vacancy that allows Mike Jackson to rejoin the first eleven for the match against the Incogniti.
Chapter 20
Bob Has News to Impart
After Wrykyn's cricket team suffers a humiliating defeat against the Incogniti, the competition between Mike and Bob for a spot on the First Eleven intensifies. Bob overhears Captain Burgess and Mr. Spence discussing that Mike will likely get the place, and he generously congratulates his younger brother. Mike struggles with the awkwardness of the situation and the need to keep the news unofficial until it is posted.
Chapter 21
Mike Goes to Sleep Again
Mike skips house-fielding practice, leading to a confrontation with Firby-Smith. Wyatt later gives Mike a lesson on the unwritten rules of school discipline, helping Mike understand the true meaning of the public school spirit.
Chapter 22
The Team Is Filled Up
Burgess, after consulting with Mr. Spence, decides to give Mike his first eleven colours, but a series of events—including a conversation with Firby-Smith about Mike's fielding practice—leads him to change his mind. When the team list is posted, Mike is devastated to see that Bob Jackson has been chosen instead.
Chapter 23
XXI: Marjory the Frank
Bob learns from a letter from his sister Marjory that Mike faked a wrist injury to let Bob play in the school match, leading to an awkward confrontation between the brothers. Bob struggles with the idea that he owes his First Eleven colours to Mike's sacrifice, while Mike tries to downplay his actions. The chapter explores themes of sacrifice, guilt, and the complications of family secrets.
Chapter 24
XXII: Wyatt Is Reminded of an Engagement
Bob Jackson confronts Burgess about Mike's sacrifice, but Burgess refuses to alter the team. Meanwhile, Wyatt agrees to attend Neville-Smith's celebration party, dismissing concerns about the risk of being caught.
Chapter 25
A Surprise for Mr. Appleby
Wyatt plans to attend Neville-Smith's celebration after hours, using his usual route through Mr. Appleby's garden. Unbeknownst to him, Mr. Appleby is sitting in the garden and witnesses Wyatt's escape. After inspecting the damage to his herbaceous border, Mr. Appleby decides he cannot ignore the incident and reports it to Mr. Wain.
Chapter 26
Caught
Mr. Wain discovers that Wyatt has broken out of the dormitory after being tipped off by Mr. Appleby. He waits in the dormitory and catches Wyatt returning. Wyatt remains calm and pleasant despite being caught.
Chapter 27
Marching Orders
Wyatt is caught returning late at night by Mr. Wain, who confronts him in his study. Despite Wyatt's nonchalant attitude, Mr. Wain decides to expel him, though he arranges for a private withdrawal. Wyatt breaks the news to Mike, who is distressed, but Wyatt remains philosophical about his fate.
Chapter 28
XXVI: The Aftermath
The chapter deals with the fallout from Wyatt's expulsion. Mike and others grapple with the news, while Burgess worries about the upcoming Ripton match. Neville-Smith confesses his guilt, and Bob suggests a job for Wyatt in the Argentine. Mike writes to his father to help secure a position for Wyatt.
Chapter 29
The Ripton Match
On the morning of the Ripton match, Mike receives a letter from his father agreeing to meet Wyatt, and a letter from Wyatt describing his first day at a bank. The match begins on a rain-affected wicket; Burgess wins the toss and Ripton bats first, scoring rapidly early on. The pitch deteriorates under the sun, and wickets fall regularly. At lunch, Ripton is 131 for 9, leaving the match evenly poised.
Chapter 30
Mike Wins Home
In a tense cricket match against Ripton, Mike Jackson rises to the occasion, scoring a crucial 83 runs to lead Wrykyn to victory. Despite early wickets falling and pressure mounting, Mike's composure and skill on a tricky wicket secure the win, cementing his reputation as a natural batsman.
Chapter 31
Mr. Jackson Makes Up His Mind
Two years after the events at Wrykyn, Mike Jackson is home for the Easter holidays. His father receives a poor school report and decides to remove Mike from Wrykyn, sending him instead to Sedleigh, a smaller, less prestigious school. Mike is devastated by the news, especially as he was set to captain the Wrykyn cricket team.
Chapter 32
XXXI: Sedleigh
Mike Jackson arrives at Sedleigh School, feeling bitter and resentful after being forced to leave Wrykyn where he was to be cricket captain. He is directed to Mr. Outwood's house, where the eccentric housemaster greets him with talk of ruined abbeys and offers tea. Mike then meets a long, immaculately dressed youth named Smith, who introduces himself in a languid manner.
Chapter 33
Psmith
Mike meets Psmith, a fellow new student at Sedleigh, and they bond over their shared dislike of the school. Psmith proposes they join the Archaeological Society to avoid cricket and explore the countryside. They commandeer a study and plan to make the best of their situation.
Chapter 34
Staking Out a Claim
Psmith and Mike take over a study, decorating it and preparing tea. When the rightful occupant, Spiller, arrives, Psmith uses wit and logic to deflect him. They then visit Mr. Outwood, where Psmith joins the Archaeological Society and secures the study for himself and Mike, leaving Spiller frustrated.
Chapter 35
Guerilla Warfare
Psmith and Mike, having commandeered Spiller's study, prepare for retaliation. They secure a shared dormitory with Jellicoe and fend off Spiller's gang, including throwing Robinson out the window. They plan to settle the conflict in the dormitory at night.
Chapter 36
Unpleasantness in the Small Hours
Mike and Psmith prepare for a retaliatory dormitory raid by Stone, Robinson, Spiller, and others. They set a string trap across the steps, arm themselves with water jugs and a dressing-gown cord, and wait in the dark. When the invaders arrive, a chaotic fight ensues, with Mike and Psmith successfully repelling the attack. Afterward, they post a notice declaring themselves 'not at home' to future raiders.
Chapter 37
Adair
Mike meets Adair, the captain of cricket and a natural leader at Sedleigh, for the first time. Adair tries to recruit Mike and Psmith for cricket, but they refuse, citing their commitment to the Archaeological Society. This leads to tension between Adair and Mike, and later a confrontation with Mr. Downing, who disapproves of their archaeological pursuits.
Chapter 38
Mike Finds Occupation
Mike struggles with his self-imposed exile from Sedleigh cricket, aching to play but unwilling to back down from his stance. He finds an outlet when he meets Prendergast, a former cricketer, who invites him to play for the village team at Lower Borlock. Mike accepts eagerly, keeping his cricket activities secret from the school.
Chapter 39
The Fire Brigade Meeting
Mike's life in Lower Borlock improves as his cricket average rises, but his ongoing conflict with Mr. Downing escalates during a chaotic Fire Brigade meeting. The meeting devolves into disorder when Jellicoe's clockwork rat and Mr. Downing's dog Sammy cause a frenzy. Mr. Downing punishes Mike more harshly than Wilson due to personal dislike, leading to Mike being detained on Saturday.
Chapter 40
Achilles Leaves His Tent
Mike, brooding over his punishments and financial troubles, is visited by Stone and Robinson. They discover his cricketing pedigree at Wrykyn and persuade him to play in a house match against Downing's on Midterm Service day, setting the stage for his return to school cricket.
Chapter 41
The Match with Downing’s
Mike plays a spectacular innings against Downing's house, scoring a century before lunch. Despite Adair's request that he play for Sedleigh against the Old Sedleighans, Mike refuses. Outwood's house, nursing a grudge against Mr. Downing, refuses to declare, leading to a historic day where Downing's never gets to bat.
Chapter 42
The Singular Behavior of Jellicoe
After Mike's record-breaking innings, he lies exhausted in Psmith's deck-chair while Psmith discusses the day's events and warns that Mr. Downing may retaliate. Psmith reveals that Jellicoe borrowed three pounds from him, adding to a previous loan from Mike. That night, unable to sleep, Jellicoe visits Mike's bed, rambles anxiously about the consequences of being sacked, and eventually asks for another loan. Despite his fatigue, Mike gives Jellicoe the postal order he received from his brother Bob.
Chapter 43
XLII: Jellicoe Goes on the Sick-List
Mike wakes up feeling low-spirited after lending Jellicoe his money and facing detention. During the Old Boys' match, Jellicoe is accidentally hit on the ankle by a drive from Dunster and has to be helped off the field. Mr. Downing, still angry about the previous day's deliberate rag, singles out Mike in a sarcastic and then blunt tirade during form, but is interrupted by a shuffling noise and loses his train of thought.
Chapter 44
Mike Receives a Commission
After detention on a fine summer afternoon, Mike joins Psmith and Dunster on the cricket field. He learns that Jellicoe urgently needs him, but delays visiting until lockup. Jellicoe reveals he owes money to Mr. Barley of the Lower Borlock 'White Boar' and must pay that evening or face exposure. Mike agrees to sneak out after lights-out to deliver the payment, borrowing a bicycle shed key from Psmith without revealing his purpose.
Chapter 45
And Fulfils It
Mike rides to Lower Borlock at night to deliver Jellicoe's five pounds to Mr. Barley, only to discover the debt was a practical joke about Jellicoe's dogs. He returns to Sedleigh and attempts to climb back into Outwood's via the drainpipe, but is challenged by a voice from below.
Chapter 46
Pursuit
Mike, caught sneaking back into Mr. Outwood's house after hours, flees from Sergeant Collard and later from Mr. Downing. To escape, he rings the fire alarm bell, waking the entire school.
Chapter 47
The Decoration of Sammy
The morning after the chaotic fire drill prank, the boys in Outwood's senior day-room discuss the events. Sammy the bull-terrier appears covered in red paint, causing amusement and speculation. Mike shows sympathy for the dog, while Jellicoe hints at knowing Mike's secret role in the previous night's bell-ringing.
Chapter 48
Mr. Downing on the Scent
Mr. Downing investigates the previous night's events, learning from Sergeant Collard that a tall, bareheaded boy was seen trying to enter Mr. Outwood's house. He connects this to the painting of his dog Sammy red and the false fire alarm, narrowing the search to Outwood's house.
Chapter 49
The Sleuthhound
Mr. Downing, inspired by Sherlock Holmes, investigates the paint-spilling incident and the decoration of Sammy. He questions Adair and the ground-man Markby, discovers a red paint footprint in the bicycle shed, and deduces that the culprit must be a boy from Mr. Outwood's house with paint-splashed boots.
Chapter 50
A Check
Mr. Downing arrives at Mr. Outwood's house while only Mike and Psmith are present. He insists on inspecting the dormitories and studies, eventually focusing on Psmith and Mike's study. After noticing the water pipe outside the window, he becomes convinced that Mike painted his dog Sammy red. He demands to see Mike's boots and discovers a boot with red paint, which he takes to the headmaster. However, when presented to the headmaster, the boot is clean, leaving Mr. Downing baffled.
Chapter 51
L: The Destroyer of Evidence
Psmith cleverly hides the incriminating boot in a locked cupboard and outwits Mr. Downing, who comes searching for it. When the boot is finally produced before the headmaster, it shows no trace of paint, and Psmith suggests that Mr. Downing was deceived by light and shadow. After the confrontation, Psmith runs back to his study to secure the real evidence.
Chapter 52
LII: On the Trail Again
Psmith neglects to inform Mike about the afternoon's events, leading Mike to go to school in pumps after losing a boot. Mr. Downing, a staunch opponent of shoes, detects Mike's footwear and, upon hearing his explanation, becomes convinced that his case against Mike is complete. He rushes to the headmaster after the lesson.
Chapter 53
The Kettle Method
Stone and Robinson, fed up with Adair's early-morning fielding practice, decide to rebel and threaten to quit the school team. Adair confronts them, physically subdues Stone in a fight, and forces both to agree to attend practice. He then seeks out Mike Jackson for a word.
Chapter 54
Adair Has a Word with Mike
Mike reads a letter from Strachan about Wrykyn's poor cricket season, deepening his resentment toward Sedleigh. Adair enters and, after a confrontation with Stone and Robinson over early-morning fielding practice, demands that Mike also turn out and play for the school against the M.C.C. Mike refuses, and a fight nearly breaks out, but Psmith intervenes and suggests they settle it elsewhere.
Chapter 55
Clearing the Air
Psmith reveals that he is a skilled cricketer, having been a near-certainty for the Eton eleven, and convinces Mike to play for Sedleigh. Mike and Adair engage in a brief but intense fight, which Mike wins by knockout. The fight clears the bad blood between them, and Mike begins to see Adair in a new light. Psmith acts as peacemaker, urging Mike to write to Adair and agree to play against the M.C.C.
Chapter 56
In Which Peace Is Declared
Mike and Adair reconcile after their fight, discussing Adair's injured wrist and the upcoming cricket match. They agree to play together against Wrykyn, and Mike suggests arranging a match with his old school. The chapter ends with the two walking to school in the rain, having made peace.
Chapter 57
Mr. Downing Moves
The rain cancels the M.C.C. match, and Mike is summoned by Mr. Downing, who suspects him of painting Sammy the dog. Downing presents circumstantial evidence, including a missing boot with paint. Mike confides in Psmith, who reveals he hid the boot up the chimney. Mike explains his midnight bicycle ride to help Jellicoe, which led to the paint stain. Psmith then goes to Downing and confesses to the painting himself.
Chapter 58
The Artist Claims His Work
Psmith confesses to painting Mr. Downing's dog Sammy to clear Mike, then reveals the truth to the headmaster, who lets him off with a warning.
Chapter 59
Sedleigh v. Wrykyn
The Sedleigh vs. Wrykyn cricket match reaches its climax. Sedleigh, nervous and behind after the first innings, stages a comeback thanks to Mike and Psmith's batting and Adair's bowling. With a crucial breakthrough, Sedleigh wins by 35 runs. After the match, Mike and Psmith discuss the victory and the future of Sedleigh cricket.
