Son of a Trickster

Jared wakes up on New Year’s Day of 2013 in a stranger’s bedroom. The Native boy next to him introduces himself as George and relays the night’s events to Jared. Jared defended George against Dylan at the party, and George posted the embarrassing altercation online. Jared convinces him to take it down, worried about the consequences. 

Jared reads text messages from Destiny, who resents him for not babysitting Ben so she could party. He also has an old voicemail from Mrs. Jaks asking for help, which prompts Jared to realize he cannot remember the past two days. Jared goes next door to Dylan’s to apologize, and Dylan punches him before deciding he is “too hungover to kill [him]” (101). Dylan drops off Jared at the Jaks house, where he shovels their driveway, but no one answers the door. He feels obligated to help Mrs. Jaks “after all the shit that had gone down” with David (102). Jared drinks some stolen vodka to steady his shaking hands before having dinner with his mom, who warns him not to let Dylan use him as a “punching bag.”