The only real order provided by Kathy is her mapping of events geographically in each part of the story. Even her ability to remember specific dates resembles the behavior of an elderly person because many of the years "tend to blur into each other" mirroring dementia (77). .
It is hard to imagine someone so young being so forgetful, but Kathy H.'s unique circumstances make it understandable. Kathy H., Ruth, Tommy, and everyone else at Hailsham are clones created for one purpose and one purpose only. Kathy H. never comes out with this information directly until much later in the story when she recalls Miss. Lucy's big reveal. The students were under the pavilion waiting to play when Miss. Lucy snapped the dreams of their future into reality saying, "your lives are set out for you, [and you will soon] start to donate you vital organs" (81). This is where the reader begins to understand the secrecy behind Kathy's story. She only tells what is important to her for understanding the past, but it is a method which leaves the reader confused. Kathy is writing as if her audience is someone in similar circumstances. At one point she even breaks from her character and addresses the reader saying, "I don't know if you had "collections" where you were" when she says how she could tell Hailsham people and other people apart (38). Kathy's occasional lapses into second person enforce the idea of the story being that of a trauma narrative because she is addressing the world in the present tense much like that of a patient talking to a therapist during a recovery session. She is almost addressing her audience as if reassuring herself that they are still there listening. .
Being from Hailsham gave even more sadness to Kathy's life in an ironic way. Much like today, euphemisms are used heavily in the book to cover the harsh realities of life. Rather than being called clones, the students at Hailsham are called donors, students, and carers, and dying is called completing.
