Skeetah is worried that something is wrong with China. She’s “too easy”; she doesn’t fight off the puppies after they’ve had enough and he is concerned that he gave her too much de-wormer. Esch notes that Skeetah’s treatment of and behavior around China is very much like their mother’s around her children. Esch convinces Skeetah to bathe and to take care of his wounds and to lift his spirits, and she is left to watch over China.

China moves away from the puppies and then sleeps. Junior carefully brings them closer to her. With the last puppy he takes his time and China stirs in her sleep. Esch squeezes his arm hard because he won’t listen to her commands to put the puppy down. Junior asks to go to the park and Esch agrees to take him. Skeetah comes along, bringing China, to “[make] her walk it out” (117) but she is slow and reluctant.

When they reach the park there are a couple of girls there. One is Manny’s girlfriend Shaliyah, and Manny is playing basketball with another. Esch notices that Shaliyah holds herself with the sort of confidence that comes from being with only one boy.