I’ll bet you fifty dollars you can’t eat fifteen worms. I really will.
-- Alan (Chapter I, The Bet paragraph 34)

Importance: After Tom is grounded and not allowed out to play because he refuses to eat salmon casserole, Billy tells Tom that salmon casserole is not so bad and only a bite or two wouldn’t have killed him. Alan, who is argumentative, then insists that Billy would never eat dirt or a worm. Billy insists he would eat worms, so Alan makes the bet. Billy, hoping to buy a minibike with the money, accepts.

If he doesn’t give up himself, I’ll figure something out.
-- Joe (Chapter V, The Gathering Storm paragraph 5)

Importance: After Billy successfully eats his first worm, Alan begins to worry he’ll lose the bet and owe Billy $50. His parents will be very mad at him for this. Joe tells Alan not to worry, that he’ll think of some way to ensure that Alan wins the bet...