The next week brings a heat wave to town, so Chet is thrilled when the boys ask him to go swimming with them at the Matawan Creek. All week, the boys have visited Chet at work, asking him to tell them stories about his travels around the country. Sid calls Chet “the luckiest kid I know” because he has seen so many interesting places (22). Chet disagrees, telling them that he hates moving around so much and realizes that this is the first time that he has spoken that truth aloud. He worries that his new friends will think that he is complaining too much.

Chet is surprised when Sid asks why he never comes down to swim at the creek and that they are “always looking for [him]” there (23). Sid suggests that Chet join them that afternoon after work, and he agrees.

After work, Chet makes his way to the creek and hears shouts and splashing from the boys. The boys call him to join them, and Chet jumps in off a dock at the water’s edge. The boys play catch with a rubber ball for a while and split some molasses cookies which Dewey’s mother sent with him.