Summary

The next night, on Harry Potter’s birthday, the last day of July, Ben begins Chapter 38. He’s at a Harry Potter-themed hangout with Dylan and Samantha. Everything reminds him of Arthur. When Scabbers, a character in the movie they’re watching comes on the screen, he remembers the song “Ben” by Michael Jackson that Arthur sang at their karaoke night. Arthur unfollowed Ben on Instagram. Ben thinks about showing up at Arthur’s job or house, like how Arthur showed up at Ben’s school, but knows that he shouldn’t. As he’s talking with Dylan and Samantha, Ben becomes increasingly more accusatory and upset, and ends up fighting with his best friend. He leaves, and goes to Hudson’s building instead.

Chapter 29 starts with Arthur on Wednesday, staying at home instead of going to work. His dad is back in...