Summary

Jake has to cut the grass for the Wilkeys that day, and he wants to tell Sam about his grandfather even though they are angry at each other. Jake apologizes about forgetting their meetup, and he begs Sam to let him help him. Jake assures his friend that the authorities will not kill his father, but Sam says, “And why is that? Because they’re American cops and they do not do that stuff? Taking an innocent man is just as bad as committing terrorist acts” (213). Jake cannot believe what he is hearing.

At home, Grandma tells Jake that they have to clean out the Wilkeys’ shed and that Jake has to learn how to decide which battles to fight. Mom has also been helping the Wilkeys in other ways. Jake is upset because he believes that everything he has done recently...