Bearstone

For several days, Cloyd visits the hospital, but they won’t let him see Walter yet. He has the nurse place his bearstone on Walter’s nightstand. When finally he can talk to Walter, the old man glances at the bearstone: “I sure appreciated seeing that blue bear of yours” (143). Wanting Walter to know how much he means to him, Cloyd gives the stone to Walter. The old man starts to object, but he sees in Cloyd’s eyes the soul, not of a boy, but a man. Feeling a new sense of joy, he accepts the gift gratefully.

School begins, and Cloyd moves back to the group home. He’s determined to learn how to read, and the school gives him a tutor. He continues to visit Walter every day. After some weeks, though, the man seems worse. Cloyd hears that Walter can no longer care for himself and must sell the ranch and move to a nursing home.

Cloyd talks to his school’s bus drivers and finds one who lives near Walter’s ranch and can give him a lift to the bus. When he returns to his group home, he finds that his stuff is packed, and a new kid has moved into his room.