in retrospect

The first group meeting was some days just before the winter holidays. It was discovered that only one of the three had actually read the book. So the book was read, and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The story involves someone who is terrified by a pair of pale green pants (without anyone in them), that seems to be following him. He (or she, it's not specific) gets all bent out of shape, stressed, and loses sleep over avoiding said pants. After terrifying ordeals, he realizes the pants are just as scared of him as he is of them. They become friends.
The theme of the book was discussed, and it was concluded to be "fear of the unknown." Several topics of this were brainstromed, such as: paranoia, the danger of single perspective, something not being the way one believes it should be, ignorance of other religions and/or cultures, irrational fears; and also miscommunication, and the fact that the pants just want love.
And so, with ideas in hand and refreshed from the holidays, the lit kids bravely embark towards the next leg of the project... research.