- Mr. Pugh is in the middle of giving our unnamed narrator a lecture, the message of which seems to be "I hope you fail." So, um, it's not exactly a motivational speech.
- The two seem to be driving to a work program. Mr. Pugh is skeptical about the program's effectiveness.
- Our narrator seems to be handcuffed in the back of the van. Handcuffs…work program…something tells us the narrator is a prisoner.
- Looks like we are right: Mr. Pugh introduces our narrator as "the inmate" to the receptionist of a nursing home where the work program seems to be taking place.
- The guy in charge, Father Santoro, introduces himself to our narrator, whose name is Reese, by the way.
- Father Santoro explains the details of the work program arrangement: Reese will be working there ten days a month, cleaning and helping the seniors who live there.
- Father Santoro introduces Reese to his supervisor, Mrs. Silvey. Wow, he's way friendlier than Mr. Pugh.
- Mrs. Silvey gives Reese his first task, which is picking up trash.
- During this mini orientation, she asks how long Reese has been at Progress, the juvenile facility where he's incarcerated. The answer? Twenty-two months so far.
- Reese wanders around picking up trash. It's practically fun compared to life at Progress, so we know he must be pretty unhappy there.
- He notices that all the residents are white. And sort of racist. When he introduces himself to one resident, she says he couldn't afford two names. Reese is a good sport.
- Reese has lunch, and soon enough it's time to leave. On his way out, he sees a delivery guy joking with the receptionist and feels jealous—he wishes he could just be regular like that.
- But it's hard to feel regular when you're in handcuffs. Mr. Pugh is back, and he's making a big show of putting Reese back in the bracelets.
- Back at Progress, Mr. Pugh strip-searches Reese for contraband. It's, er, a thorough search.