A negotiation, or “method of bargaining so that you can reach an agreement” (122), seems unlikely at the start of Chapter 9. Jessie arrives home looking happy. Evan is attempting to race his marble down the wooden track he’s built. When the marble misses the cup at the end of the track, Jessie tries to give Evan advice. Angry, Evan snaps at her, and she leaves the room after calling him “Grumpminster Fink” (123), a character from a story early in Jessie and Evan’s childhood. Evan feels remorseful, as this reminds him of his father’s departure and the change in the household: “[A]fter Dad left, there just weren’t any more stories” (125). He calls up the stairs after Jessie, asking if she wants to call the lemonade war off. When Jessie replies that she’s going somewhere with Megan, Evan feels like she’s going to embarrass him by winning the war. He declares the lemonade war back on.

To Jessie’s dismay, Evan is angry with her again. She doesn’t understand it. The other thing bothering Jessie is that she really has only earned $104, as Megan’s additional money is supposed to be a donation. Jessie goes back and forth in her mind about whether or not she should be honest about Megan’s money and risk losing the war.