Runner

On Monday after school, there’s a gray backpack inside Chance’s locker. He thinks of it as so inscrutably dangerous that it might as well be a bomb, but he wears it. As he runs, he notices several people dressing and acting in strikingly unconventional ways and feels relieved—backpack or no backpack, Chance doesn’t stick out. Reaching the maple tree, Chance finds a brown package inside a plastic bag. He puts it in the backpack and thinks he sees Mr. Arnold, but it’s a different person just playing with his dog.

Back in the utility room, Chance puts the backpack in his locker. He showers and goes to his boat, but he can’t stop thinking about the backpack. Maybe something went wrong. Early Tuesday morning, he goes to the utility room and checks the locker: The backpack is there, but someone has taken the package.

The “fat guy” walks with Chance and clarifies a few things. Chance gets paid every Sunday—the money will be in the backpack’s front pouch. If Chance sees the “fat guy,” he can either ignore him or nod, but he must not talk to him. If speaking is necessary, the man will approach Chance.