On the baseball field, Alex is safe at home because Rex drops the ball. Everyone congratulates him while his sister sits nearby playing his Gameboy. His mother calls to check in. Still unaware of the attacks in Manhattan, Alex is excited that his mom may be at the hospital late. As the call ends, Jordan, Deemer, and Calvin arrive. Doug and Kwan run, leaving Alex alone with the bullies. Looking at Alex’s shirt tied around his head like a bandana, the bullies sneer, calling Alex a “raghead” (a derogatory term for someone wearing a turban) and “one of them” (77), referring to the terrorists who attacked the Twin Towers. Oblivious to these references, Alex calls Jordan a jerk, thinking that Rex can protect him, but the dog is nowhere to be found.

The boys chase Alex, weaving through the playground. When Alex evades Deemer by rolling down a handrail on his Heelys, he thinks he has escaped. However, when he looks back, a hand closes around his throat. Jordan drops him to the ground, and before he can get up, the other two arrive and grab him. As Jordan winds up to punch, Rex growls. Calvin and Deemer back off as Jordan orders Alex to call the dog off.