FORM 5

Novels

Catch us if you
can
Name: Ahmad Zul
Fikhrie Bin
Azmi
Matric
no:10706
College:
Mara

Junior

1
 Sc
ience
Col
lege
Kubang
Pasu

2
CATCH US IF YOU CAN

Author’s background

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Catherine MacPhail ( born 25 January 1946, Greenock) is a Scottish-born author, who
has an established reputation as a writer of gritty, urban stories that tackle emotional and
contemporary issues that eventually work towards a positive solution. Although she has
had jobs (assembling computers for IBM and as a housewife), she always wanted to be a
writer. Her first published work was a sort of "twist-in-the-tale" story in Titbits, followed by
a story in the Sunday Post.

In addition to writing books for children around their teens, she also writes for adults and
is the author of the BBC Radio 2 series.

Synopsis

Rory and his grandfather, Granda, have looked after each other since Rory’s dad
walked out on them. Granda is given to lapses in memory (putting Rory’s homework
down the rubbish chute and the rubbish in Rory’s school bag) and completely
irresponsible behaviour (setting fire to his coat at a Parents’ Evening), but he has a
generous heart and plenty of charm. Rory acts as his carer until there is a fire in the
flat and the authorities decide to separate them. However, Rory is determined that
they will stay together and they embark on an escape but with their faces on every
television screen and in every newspaper, this is not so easy. Their journey is full of
surprise betrayals and unexpected friends as they attempt to evade the authorities
and eventually track down the man who walked out on them.

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Elements

PLOT SUMMARY
Chapter 1

Readers are introduced to Rory and his Granda as they wait for Dr Nicol in the waiting room.
The doctor is concerned that Rory is too young to take care of his grandfather. However,
Rory is aware that there are only two of them in the family.

Chapter 2

Granda has a failing memory; always misplacing things. Rory has the sole responsibility of
taking care of Granda like buying him his lunch every day.

Chapter 3

Rory sacrifices some of the things he likes for Granda. He gives up football so that he can
be at home with his Granda. Rory’s worry is that if Granda is put into Rachnadar, they would

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be separated. Rory’s dad had left them many years ago and Granda is very disappointed
with his son, not wanting to see him again.

Chapter 4

Granda is very popular with Rory’s friends and meets Mrs. Foley for the first time. Granda
accidentally sets fire to his and Mrs. Foley’s coats at the school’s Parents’ Night.

Chapter 5

Val Jessup, a social worker is assigned to take care of Granda and Rory. Darren’s mum and
Mrs. Foley are both worried for Rory and are glad of the extra help they were going to
receive. However, Granda has a little accident in the flat and is taken to the hospital.

Chapter 6

Granda has suffered from smoke inhalation and has to be hospitalised. Rory pleads to the
Big Man to make Granda wake up. Val Jessup is nervous to let Rory live in the flat alone
and drives him to the children’s home at Castle Street.

Chapter 7

Rory goes to the home because he has no choice and he thinks that it will be for only one
night – till his granda is out of the hospital. Tess, a young inmate of the home, terrifies Rory
with her bad behaviour.

Chapter 8

Granda admits that he had forgotten that the chip pan was on the stove, hence the fire in the
flat. He tries to appease Rory by saying that he would get better soon. However, he is upset
that his grandson is in the Castle Street home.

Chapter 9

Although Rory loves his grandfather, he is slightly annoyed with him as well because of the
accident; he had landed himself in the hospital because of that and now Rory is in a
children’s home. Rory goes back to the flat with Val and collects Granda’s medication.
There, Rory realises that he wants to return home. Granda feels the same too.

Chapter 10

Rory is given the idea that Mrs Foley might foster Rory. Rory goes to the hospital to find that
Granda is not there anymore.

Chapter 11

Granda has been shifted to Rachnadar. Val Jessup tells Rory that he is just a boy and that
he cannot take care of Granda anymore.

Chapter 12

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Granda is very upset to be sent to the home and it breaks Rory’s heart to see him cry. At
Castle Street, Rory fights with Tess. Rory becomes exasperated when Granda retreats
further and further into a shell while at Rachnadar and at school, the idea of being fostered
by Mrs Foley worries him. Life is certainly unpleasant in Castle Street when Tess becomes
increasingly uncontrollable. Rory decides that the only way is to run away with Granda.

Chapter 13

The Great Escape. Darren offers the use of his mom’s caravan and Rory plans the escape
with great detail. Granda relies on Rory to get out of Rachnadar.

Chapter 14

Granda is like a little boy, allowing him to be led; safe in the knowledge that Rory would look
after him. He is happy to be in the caravan and decides that he is indeed a lucky man to
deserve a boy like Rory. Rory has done all of this so that they could be together. He
realises that he would never let anyone separate them.

Chapter 15

Happy in the caravan, Granda recovers his old self.

Chapter 16

While fishing, they meet strangers and Granda is prejudiced when he calls them “tinkers”.
As Granda’s health improves and both of them are happy, Darren sends Rory a text
message saying that the authorities are after them.

Chapter 17

Rory prepares Granda for another move away from the police but as they move through the
woods, the strangers whom they had met the day before, reach out and help them.

Chapter 18

Rory has no choice and allows them to lead. They are taken to an older caravan camp and
Rory meets Tyrone and his family. Tyrone’s mom responds that they had helped them
because it was Rory that they had wanted to help.

Chapter 19

They are taken care of well in Sammy’s camp. While there, they realise that they are the top
story on the Scottish news as a boy and his grandfather on the run. Apparently, the
authorities are worried about Granda whose health is a real concern. Granda decides that
he would rather die of cold and hunger as long as he is free.

Chapter 20

Granda and Rory are worried that Sammy would get into trouble by helping them. But
Sammy insists that he did not kidnap them and that they are not escaped convicts. Rory
learns never to be judgemental of people.

Chapter 21

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The runaways enjoy the birthday party in Sammy’s brother’s place. Ruby reads Rory’s future
and predicts that he would meet people who would help him; some of whom he would not be
able to trust. He would certainly find what he is looking for but would face a terrible sadness
before that.

Chapter 22

The public has mixed responses over Rory and Granda’s running away. Ruby indicates that
people are taking sides about them, arguing about the rights and wrongs of their case. Rory
realises that they would have to be on the move again. Sammy suggests that he drives them
to Dundee so that they can take a train to Glasgow to be with family friends who would
provide them with shelter and time to think.

Chapter23

In the train, Rory realises that they have been recognised and alights at an earlier station.
When Granda goes to the toilet, Rory is bullied by a young man who recognises him.
Granda beats the latter with a bottle and decides that he will steal a car to escape.

Chapter 24

Granda seems an expert at stealing cars and his driving scares Rory. They stop at the lay by
to have some rest.

Chapter 25

The runaways meet Rab when they stop to buy petrol. He offers them help.

Chapter 26

Rab says that he wants to help them because Rory and Granda are not criminals. He allows
them the use of his flat and seems kind and concerned. Though pale and tired, Granda says
that he is alright as long as he is with Rory. Rory prays for help because he realises he
needs someone to help him. Again TV newsflashes show that the public is very much on
their side and Rory gets to know that his Granda’s son, his father, has been traced to
Liverpool.

Chapter 27

The television news states that neither Rory nor his grandfather have attempted to contact
Jeff McIntosh in Liverpool. Rab encourages Rory to take his grandfather to his son.

Chapter 28

Rab has a grand idea to make sure that they get to Liverpool. A whole line of people are
going to take them to Rory’s dad and Granda comments that the world is indeed wonderful
after having experienced so much kindness.

Chapter 29

Annie drives them into England and leaves them with Norma and Nicola. The latter admires
Rory for what he has done. Granda agrees but his mood changes when he finds out that
they are going to his son in Liverpool.

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Chapter 30

Granda refuses to go and for the first time Rory is frustrated. He had hoped that his father
would take over the responsibility of Granda but Granda thinks that it would hurt Rory too
much if his father would leave them again. Rory begins to hate his father and Granda
consoles him by saying that they have never needed him and that they do not need him
now. Nicola rings up to tell Rory that the police are coming and that they would have to
move on.

Chapter 31

It is the second escape; both of them run out into the dark. Granda is tired and they both
stop to rest and eventually sleep off at a stone bus shelter. Prior to that Granda says that if
he was to die, he would as a happy man. On awakening, Rory is not able to awaken his
grandfather and is afraid that he may be dead.

Chapter 32

Rory runs for help and remembers Ruby’s prophecy about the terrible sadness. Help comes
immediately and the police introduce him to his father.

Chapter 33

Granda is not dead. He is hospitalised and recovers eventually. Rory is reunited with his dad
and his family. He has two little sisters who endear themselves to Granda. His dad asks to
be given another chance to prove that he can be a good dad and a good son again. Rory
has found what he was looking for and realises that if anything happens to his Granda he
will not be alone again. He is thankful to all who have helped them on their journey. He is
very happy that he, Granda and his family are together again.

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CHARACTERS
Major characters

Granda
Rory’s grandfather. Also known as Mister McIntosh. Elderly, partially senile and never
quite well, with a tendency to forget what he is doing (never puts off his pipe properly till
it smoulders into flames). Loves his grandson dearly and cannot bear the thought of
being separated from him. Rises to the occasion when least expected to. Hurt by his
son’s departure from the family and after his daughter-in-law’s death, is dedicated to
taking care of Rory.

Rory
A young boy, still in school who is dedicated to taking care of his aging grandfather.
Shows determination and courage even in desperate situations (when the grandfather
is admitted in Rachnadar). Mature, he understands why his grandfather refuses to meet
his own father.

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Minor characters

Val Jessup
A young and eager social worker who is responsible for Rory’s well being. Responsible,
she is anxious that Granda receives his full pension benefits and arranges for Rory to
stay at the children’s home in Castle Street.

Mrs Foley
Rory’s teacher who is keenly aware of his inability to pass up his homework because of
his duty to care for his grandfather. She is very concerned when Granda is admitted
into the hospital and realises that Rory should not be in the children’s home.

Darren
Rory’s best friend in school who helps him to stay in the mother’s caravan when Granda
is taken away from Rachnadar.

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 Jeff McIntosh – reconciliates with his father and son when he sees them on television.

Sammy, Ruby and Tyrone

The family that offers comfort and security knowing that if they did not, the police would
have taken Rory and his grandfather away.

Rab and his friends

Offer security and are keen for Rory and Granda to go to Liverpool to meet with Rory’s
father.

Setting
Where it happens
Physical setting Social setting Atmosphere

Dr Nicol’s clinic Comfortable with the care Relaxed

and concern of Dr Nicol

Rory’s school Public school Rory is terrified of Mrs. Foley.

Helpful classmates – try to

help Rory with his homework.

Parents’ Night.

Granda and Flat owned by the Despite Granda’s forgetful

Building Society antics, there is much love and
Rory’s flat
understanding between the
two.
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Hospital The nurses and a
policewoman are kind to
Rory but do not tell him
Granda’s real condition.
Children’s Temporary home for
abandoned children who
home at Castle
may be up for foster care.
Street.
Where it happens
Physical setting Social setting
Rachnadar ‘This is where they put old
folk that nobody wants.’
Darren’s mum’s The caravan provided
them with the comfort
caravan
they had missed in the
past few days.
Tyrone’s Similar to many other
caravans in the campsite.
caravan
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Rory is worried for his
grandfather’s health – the
constant fear of death nags at
him; he begs ‘Big Man’ to
‘wake’ Granda up from his
sleep.
‘ grey , dead stone, crow step
gables and even a turret
…..an eerie silver light was
cast against the building. Like
something out of a ghost
story.’
Contrast between amiable
boys and girls as well as
aggressive Tess.
Rory is miserable.
Atmosphere
Granda is upset being there
and it hurts Rory.
‘…..the shuffling old people
with dead eyes pass up and
down…’
‘…dead secluded’ but filled
with basic necessities.
Warm and friendly.
Smelling of spices; domestic
and happy atmosphere.
Perth railway
station
Gas station It is comforting to know
that Rory and Granda are
among people who trust
them and are willing to
help.
The trip to The public, though
worried for the
Liverpool
responsibility that Rory
has undertaken with the
care of his grandfather, is
very helpful in attempting
to get Jeff McIntosh to
meet his father and son.
Where it happens
Physical setting Social setting
Bus shelter The bond between the
two generations.
Liverpool The family is united
‘I’d find what I was looking
for.’
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Rory is threatened and
Granda attacks the young
nasty boy; Granda is
galvanised into action –
decides that he will steal a
car.
Rab has recognised Rory and
his Granda and is keen to
help
Norma’s house provided
temporary relief.
Granda is hurt and angry that
he is actually being taken to
Liverpool to meet his son /
Rory’s father.
Atmosphere
Granda is cold when he rests
at the shelter after the escape
from Norma’s house, but tells
Rory that he is willing to be
anywhere as long as ‘they are
together.’
Rory is extremely afraid and
shocked that he may be alone
when he thinks his
grandfather is dead.
Granda may accept his son
eventually (despite the years
of misunderstanding).
Rory had found a family and
would not be alone when
Granda finally goes.
Plot

Climax
Rory is convinced that his Granda is dead when they
escape and rest at the stone bus shelter.

Running away from the Rory runs for help.

authorities with the help of Intervention of the
caring individuals authorities.

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 The Great Escape. Meets his father.

Granda is admitted to the

hospital when he inhales
smoke during the
fire in the flat. Rory is sent Granda recovers in the
to the Children’s home in hospital and meets his son
Castle Street. and family.

Exposition : Resolution:

Readers are given a view of Rory is reunited with his father.

Granda’s and Rory’s life. He is happy that he now has a
Themes family.

Family and relationships

A journey of love and protection between a grandfather and his grandson.

Growing up / Adolescence

Explores key issues that young boys of this age may confront as their characters are
shaped by relationships around them.

Bridging the generation gap

A young boy’s love for his aging grandfather; it shows a young boy realizing that someone he
loves deeply may die.

Social and civic responsibilities

How society tries to intervene and help those who they think are unfairly treated or who they
think deserve a better treatment. 16
 Social bias

How society is quick to decide what the aged and ailing as well as the young should be
treated.

Values

1. Family relationships and bonds must be appreciated and maintained.

2. Communication is an important feature among friends and family members.

3. Trust is a vital component in bridging generations.

4. Appearances may not be what they seem.

Analysing Characters
RORY – has a rich inner life; capable of growing and changing, adapting to every new
situation with hope and optimism. Readers follow his development through a very wide
variety of experiences.

Consequences
Behaviour
He and his grandfather avoid the
Kind, respectful and very aware of
authorities and eventually meet up
his responsibilities
with his father

Motives
Actions
Honest and sincere; he is very
He plans the great escape and is
determined to be with his
solely responsible for getting his
grandfather all the time. He does
grandfather out of the home for old
not want his grandfather to be in the 17
people. Along the journey, he meets
old people’s home and the only way
new people who extend help.
out is to run away.
 GRANDA – delightfully funny; often repeating phrases and is able to surprise the reader in
some instances (hitting the bully unconscious in Perth railway station and stealing the car)
Motives
He has no serious motives except
that he wants to be together with
his grandson at all times.
Consequences
Consequently he is separated from his
grandson but runs away from the home.
He meets strangers, some of whom he
harbours prejudices. He hits a bully who
threatens Rory and even steals a car in
an attempt to escape. He reconciles
with his son and his family in the end.
Behaviour
Forgetful and often helpless, he has a good
sense of humour. Loves his grandson who
he says makes up for his ‘lost’ son.
Charming to ladies, he considers himself
lucky to have Rory as his grandson - “What
did I do to deserve a boy like you?”
Actions
He unwittingly embarrasses
Rory’s school teacher and
becomes a hit among the
children when he accidentally
sets his coat on fire during
Parents’ Day. In his forgetfulness,
he nearly sets the flat on fire and
because of that is hospitalised.
He is very co-operative with Rory
18 during their journey and never
once complains.
 FRIENDS – a good collection of friends, who, despite being unknown to Granda and Rory,
are very helpful to both of them in their initial mission to get away from Rachnadar and
Castle Street and to be able to live together.
Actions

Behaviour They go out of

their way to help
Helpful and very Rory and his
understanding of Rory’s grandson to
case. They all think that escape from the
Rory is too young to be authorities.
responsible for his
granda.

Motives
Sincere in their attempts -
they know that Granda and
Rory are not ‘dangerous’
people and only want to be
together.
Consequences
Their help propels Rory and his grandfather to
find the long missing father / son.
“I think of them all. Everyone who helped us
on our journey.”

Symbolism
The journey / escape - of the desired freedom that both need to be together.

The caravan - safety, privacy and security; both feel very safe in the
caravans until it is time to run again.

Movies and movie stars - refer to Granda’s constant memory of what he likes
and remembers best – tending to verge on an element
of fantasy.

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Setting
Setting and the Mood of Characters

The setting of the hospital or Rachnadar and the children’s home at Castle Street is both
morbid and sombre. Both reveal a great deal of Mister McIntosh’s and Rory’s feelings and
fears.

Rachnadar Castle Street Home

- the local old people’s hospital
- granda always told me that was where
you went when nobody wanted you
“Shoot me before you put me in there,
son,” he would say.
- an old Victorian villa- converted into a
children’s home just after the war.
- grey, dead stone, crow step gables and
even a turret – it looked just the kind of
place wizards and warlocks would live

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 - the very building, stuck on the edge of in.
town, dark and forbidding, frightened - silhouetted against the night sky as
him. (I glanced into the corridor, patches of cloud scurried across the
watched the shuffling old people with moon and an eerie silver light was cast
dead eyes pass up and down, going against the building. Like something out
nowhere.) of a ghost story
- Granda was morbid of entering the home - Rory’s nightmare.
– it terrorised him. - Although Rory accepts the fact that he is
- When he is sent there, he is very sent there because of what had
emotional and pleads with Rory “ Don’t happened, he is determined to leave the
let me stay here” place as soon as his granda is out of the
- Granda becomes agitated and needs hospital.
medication to sleep. - He sleeps poorly – out of sheer terror of
- He becomes pessimistic and nostalgic Tess and also of worry of his
“People then cared about each other. grandfather.
Looked out for each other. ….now - He also knows that he has no choice
nobody cares about anybody but and comforts his granda that he will be
themselves. It’s a horrible world, Rory” settled in Castle Street until the hospital
- “If I were younger, I’d run away from discharge.
here.” - “Me and my granda were going to run
- He might breathe and walk, but inside, away.”
my granda would be dead. - The Great Escape.
- The landscape of the two places is not pleasant – the drabness of the two places
shape and reflect the feelings of the characters and goad them into action (The Great
Escape)

Setting and the Situation of Characters

The novel starts with Granda and Rory in the waiting room of a doctor’s clinic and ends with
them at the hospital.

• In the first instance (Chapter 1), Rory and Granda are waiting to see Dr. Nicol and
Granda comments about “…how nervous I get going in to see this doctor.” But here
we realise that Granda never ever forgets to take the various types of pills because it
is Rory who “made sure he took them.”

• In the doctor’s room, it is Rory who is questioned about the prescriptions and whether
Granda takes his pills regularly. It is here that we see the interaction of characters -
Rory’s responsibility of caring for his grandfather is clear to the reader and
Granda’s appreciation of his young grandson is obvious. The phrases that prove
this are often repeated throughout the text. (The author’s underlying message of the
strong and loving relationship that the two have is seen throughout the whole novel).
Rory’s journey of duty and care begins…

• The story ends with Granda recovering in the hospital. But this time, Rory is not
alone in his responsibility. He has with him his dad and the family and when he

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 realises that Granda is not going to die, he goes back home to stay with his newly
found family.

• If in the beginning, Rory was scared and family meant just him and Granda, now in
the end, if Granda did go eventually, he “won’t be alone again.” He considers himself
lucky.

• The story begins and ends in quite similar settings but the characters are happier
after going through their journey of trials and tribulations.

Glossary

Baffled v. to prove too difficult or complicated for somebody to

understand

Barring v. excluding

Battering n. repeated beating

Belching v. releasing gas from mouth noisily

Berserk Adj. behaving in an uncontrolled way as a result of anger or

irrational feeling

Billowing v. to fill with air

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Bonny Adj. attractive

Chute n. slope to drop things down

Commotion n. fuss, turmoil

Defiantly Adv. disobediently

Drooling v. dribbling saliva

Eerie Adj. unnerving or unusual way

Embellished v. beautify something by adding decorations

Engrossed v. to take up somebody’s whole attention

Forecourt n. an open area in front of the building

Gables n. the triangular top section of a side wall

gnashing v. grinding your teeth

Gruffly Adj. harsh-sounding or throaty

Guffawed v. laughed loudly

Hollering v. yelling, loud cry

indignation n. anger at unfairness

Jotter n. note pad

Ominous Adj. threatening, suggesting that something bad is going to

happen

Platter n. a variety of prepared food

Rattled v. to make somebody to lose composure

Rucksack n. a large bag usually with two straps and a supporting frame, a
backpack

Scurried v. to move at a hurried space

Shuffling v. walking without lifting feet

Sledgehammer n. a large hammer

sloshing v. spilling liquid clumsily

Slurped v. drank something noisily

Smouldering v. on fire, fiery

Stealthily Adv. Silently, sneakily, cautiously

Tinkers n. travellers (in former times , somebody who travelled from

place to place to mend metal household items such as pots

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 and pans

Tutting v. expression of irritation or disapproval, to make a clicking

sound with tongue to express annoyance or dissatisfaction

Wary Adj. cautious and alert for problems

Waxen Adj. pale and unhealthy looking

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