Deadline

Ben reflects on his conversation with Coach and tries to decide who he should tell next. In the meantime, he tries to focus on life and school. Finally, one day, Ben visits Dallas and tells her he has a blood disease and less than a year to live. He explains why he’s refusing treatment and has been hiding the truth. Dallas becomes angry and forces Ben to leave.

Ben drives around thinking. He wishes he hadn’t kept the truth hidden and wishes he could make it up to Dallas. Overwhelmed, he decides to go for a run despite the snowy weather. While running, he thinks about other kids his age. Then, he reflects on the day he got his diagnosis and realizes that he was thinking about his condition all wrong. He turns around and heads home.

Ben calls on Hey-Soos again. He explains how complicated things are getting now that he’s decided to tell the truth. Hey-Soos encourages Ben not to act out of fear (258).

In mid-January, Ben is working on his civics project. No one wants to sign his petition. Talking to the townspeople has made him realize how racist his community is.