Unable to deal with the stress of losing the gravestone, his job, and father in the same day, Henry goes to the art center. He finds that Mr. Levine's village had been given first prize from the city for being the best work of art and was going to be put on display at the town hall. Mr Levine invites Henry to the ceremony, practicing his English so he could ask Henry in person, instead of it being translated, like in every other conversation they had, and Henry accepts. Further, into the week, Mr. Hairston tells Henry that he will let him keep the job and the headstone at one condition he must destroy Mr. Levine's model village. He also says he had close relationships with Henry's principal and his mother's boss and threatens to have his mother fired and his school reputation collapse if he was not to do what Mr. Hairston wants. The reward, if Henry destroys the replica village, would be a raise of his mom's pay and get her a promotion, him keeping his job, and giving him the headstone. Henry tells no one of his situation, even his mother, to avoid stressing her out more and has to decide what to do on his own. Not knowing what he should do, he hides in the storage room at the art center and finds a mallet just in case he wants to destroy the village, as he is still unable to make up his mind. Henry falls asleep in the storage room and when he wakes up, he finds the art center deserted. Henry then finds the mallet and brings it above his head ready to smash the village when he decides not to do it.