Summer Ball

Confronted with Coach Powers’ assessment, Danny reflects on his course of action as he chucks rocks into Coffee Lake. Danny considers whether Coach Powers is being objective: “What if he was somebody telling him the truth, somebody not afraid to hurt little Danny Walker’s feelings? What if he was an adult who didn’t think it was his job to make Danny go through life feeling special” (106). Despite his mother’s constant advice to pursue his dreams and aim high, Danny begins to see the downside to continuing to try.

The next day in practice, Danny commits to another plan. He works hard in practice, determined to take another fall on his knee. This way, Danny believes he can leave Right Way with an injury and save some of his pride. Rasheed knocks Danny down and Danny exaggerates the injury. As the doctor helps Danny to his feet, his teammates cheer, which makes Danny feel like a bigger fraud.

The doctor examines Danny and finds nothing seriously wrong with his knee, but he offers Danny further treatment. Danny declines, opting to call his parents for advice. Unable to reach his mother, Danny heads back to his cabin, Gampel, purposefully ducking everyone. He runs into