Suds becomes more competitive and seeks every opportunity to behave kindly. Alongside maintaining his commitment to coursework, he holds doors open for classmates and helps clean up litter. However, he feels pressured by constantly comparing himself to his peers, and he feels an endless urge to outdo them.

Suds witnesses fellow students engaging in inappropriate behavior and struggles to understand their lack of effort. Suds’s mother suggests that he might be trying too hard to earn his halo compared to his peers, who are simply acting like typical third-graders. Misunderstanding his mother’s advice, Suds believes that he is the sole competitor for the halo, and this idea excites him.

Suds becomes increasingly anxious about winning the first halo, fearing that he may be outmatched by a classmate named Darren Tapp. Seeking to surpass Darren, Suds offers to undertake extra chores and buy treats for Mrs. Simms’s dog. The pressure to excel weighs heavily on Suds, leading to constant feelings of inadequacy. To alleviate his stress, he retreats to a bubble bath, where his mother reassures him that every student will eventually receive a halo. However, Suds struggles to fully embrace her