On Election Day, River goes with Mawmaw to the voting booth and sees long lines of people standing in the rain, waiting to cast their vote. Someone insults Mawmaw, calling her a “tree hugger” (103), and River isn’t sure how to defend her. However, Mawmaw explains to him the importance of standing up for what he believes in, and that one person can make a difference. She tells him to never respond in violence, but to find other ways to voice an opinion. As the mountaintop removal worsens, River notices that the once clear creek waters are now filled with “orange gunk” (107) because of the coal company. Mawmaw works with an activist organization to fight against the mountaintop removal, and she warns River that she may be arrested for civil disobedience in the fight to save their mountains. Amidst all these troubles, River turns to basketball as a way to let out frustration and release his worries.

River’s mother’s headaches worsen, and he misses the mother he knew before she got sick. She used to laugh and dance, but her sickness and his father’s absence have changed the family he once had. Finally, he tells Meena that the story of her shaving her legs freaked him out, and he doesn’t want her to write about girl stuff anymore.