Anderson insists that Driss’ death was an accident. He knows Nora has been suggesting otherwise and he has considered visiting her. His lawyer talks him out of this plan. He remembers an incident many years ago when an employee sliced off his toes on the alley’s bumper rail. The employee lost two toes but “understood when something was an accident” (148). Anderson believes that the town has changed a lot since those days. 

Coleman treats Miles’ issue as she would treat any case. She gathers evidence and tests her theory. Her method is to invite Miles’ friend Brandon for dinner. Miles is very excited, and Brandon arrives on time. He is polite to Miles’ parents though Ray is more invested in the basketball game on the television. Miles and Brandon disappear into Miles’ bedroom to play videogames. Everyone sits down to dinner. Brandon and Miles chuckle together at an inside joke. Coleman is pleased that Miles is happy again.

Later that evening Coleman worries about how to discuss the matter with Ray. His attitudes toward gay people in the past have not been positive and now he is “pretending not to notice what [is] right in front of him” (151).