The Rock and The River

Sam returns to school and faces even more questions and comments than he received at church. Sam has trouble concentrating but pays attention in math class since that is important for architects, which is what he wants to be when he grows up. Sam planned on giving Maxie the mittens today, but he decides against it when he sees her in the hall and she ignores him. Sam tells Stick about his situation with Maxie. Stick encourages Sam to give Maxie the mittens. The next day, Sam does just that. Maxie lets Sam walk her home. When Sam starts to walk home, he sees Stick on the street with another boy who gives him something. When Sam asks what the boy gave Stick, Stick says it was a book, and Sam thinks he’s lying.

Sam starts walking Maxie to and from school. One morning, Maxie asks him to come early so they can go to a free breakfast before school. Sam is surprised to see that Stick is one of the people serving the breakfast. Maxie tells Sam the breakfast is provided by the Black Panthers. When they are walking to Maxie’s after school, Bucky sees Sam and asks him to tell Stick to stop by the auto shop where Bucky works the next day.