Jessie recognizes that mailbags are more fashionable among the girls at school; however, she believes them to be impractical: they “banged against your knees and dug into your shoulder” (6). Her backpack characterizes her as someone who values sensible and practical choices rather than wanting to fit in with the trends and fashions of her peers. It also symbolizes her desire for control, as she notices that her friends’ mailbags bang and slap against them as they move. Her practical backpack is stationary on her back, allowing her to keep her belongings where she wants them.

Jessie believes that a thorough understanding of the legal process and her efforts to conduct “due diligence” in preparing for the court case will allow her to control the outcome of the case. Her labels, maps, and instruction sheets symbolize her efforts to control the trial’s outcome; she feels extremely confident in her ability to prove Scott’s guilt because of this preparation. However, Jessie learns an important lesson that people are unpredictable, and situations cannot be controlled.