Jess has trouble adjusting to school after her family returns to England. She becomes sick, and her parents allow her to take some time off from school, even though the doctor says that nothing is physically wrong with her. Eventually, Jess recovers from her illness and returns to school at the beginning of Year Five. Jess has trouble getting along with the other students, particularly a popular and bossy classmate named Colleen. The only student Jess likes is Tunde Coker, a boy who makes an effort to speak to her when he sees her. Jess is still convinced that TillyTilly will come to see her soon. One day in class, when Jess is particularly annoyed by her fellow classmates, she puts her head down and starts to scream.

After her tantrum, Jess is brought to see the headmaster, Mr. Heinz. Jess has been throwing tantrums in class at least once a week. Mr. Heinz asks Jess if she is happy in class. Jess remembers a comment Colleen said earlier: “Maybe Jessamy has all these ‘attacks’ because she can’t make up her mind whether she’s black or white!” (90). Jess hadn’t told her mother about the comment because she knew that her mother would be upset.