Summary

“Clara’s Day” by Penelope Lively starts with fifteen-year-old Clara Tilling. She takes off her clothes in the assembly hall at school, in front of all her peers and some teachers, and walks naked through the entrance lobby. Clara goes to her form-room where she puts on some science overalls until Mrs Mayhew comes in bringing her clothes. Throughout the morning other students congratulate her for her actions. After school, she is called into the Head’s office where the woman tries to find out why Clara undressed in front of everyone.

She asks Clara if it was to get attention, but Clara denies it and claims not to know why she acted that way. The Head talks about other girls in the school whose parents are separated like Clara’s and asks if sh...