The librarian follows through on her promise to write Joseph every week. His mood improves, and Jack notices that Joseph is sleeping better, too. The teachers at school give Joseph more responsibility. In February, Jack, Joseph, and Mr. Hurd extract syrup from trees, and Mr. Hurd suggests that Jupiter will be able to join them in the activity one day.

The days start to warm. The boys return home from school one day to find a new truck waiting at the house. Jack goes to the barn as Joseph goes inside, but the sounds of shouting from the kitchen draws Jack into the house. As he runs in, Jack bumps into Mr. Brook, who is holding a gun. Brook pulls Jack close and demands that Joseph get into his truck. Mr. Hurd refuses to let Joseph go, but Joseph decides to walk out of the house with his father. As Mr. Brook and Joseph leave the farm, Mr. Hurd calls the police.

As he flees, Mr. Brook runs his truck into Mr. Canton’s car. He tries to drive his truck over the closed Alliance River bridge, and the bridge collapses. Mr.