Pay It Forward

Trevor’s extended family shows up to a home viewing of Chris’s interview with Trevor. Trevor is so excited that he repeatedly asks Arlene if she is taping the segment. Arlene listens to the narrator talking about Sidney G. and the previous segment, and is ecstatic when she hears Trevor’s name mentioned on television. She is very proud of Trevor.

They watch as a televised Trevor explains how he’s been feeding the stray cats and keeping Mrs. Greenberg’s garden nice in memory of her. She asks Trevor if Reuben is coming, and Trevor says that Reuben will try, but Reuben never shows. Arlene does not drink.

Arlene’s mother says that “Arlene woke up sick” (241), and asks Arlene if she’d been drinking. Arlene says she’s been sober for more than a year, but her mother does not believe her. Her mom says she might be pregnant, but Arlene pushes the thought out of her head. Arlene tells Trevor she’ll get him a new bike and that she’s proud of him. Trevor says he doesn’t need a new bike.

Arlene feels sick again the next morning again. She is upset Reuben missed the showing. She finds a note from her mom telling her to call Chris.