Sam, who has spent all summer working at the pharmacy, hosts a dinner for his friends as Ernie and Mickie prepare to leave for college. Ernie leaves early to see his girlfriend, and Sam and Mickie end up arguing. Mickie urges Sam to stop wallowing in his grief. She more than anyone knows what it is like to live a hard life; Sam thinks to himself, “I knew she had it tough at home, and she seemed to be dealing with it by hardening her heart” (325). They start a food fight that ends with them having sex on the kitchen floor. Mickie leaves abruptly afterward, claiming she needs to pack, despite Sam’s entreaties for her to stay.

Madeline returns home from visiting Max, and she and Sam are together for the first time in many weeks. He tells her about deferring college, but she is adamant that he attends. Sam reassures her it is what he wants, so Madeline makes him promise he will start the following fall.

Sam decides to tell Mickie how he truly feels. He buys her flowers, but when he gets to her house, she has left early for college. Sam gives the flowers to her little sister.