- Jack gets a bunch of rejection letters from private schools, except for one called Hill.
- He gets called into the school office to take a phone call from a Hill alum named Mrs. Howard, who wants to have a chat.
- Mr. Howard is kind of bouncy and upbeat. He drives Jack to a drugstore in Concrete to have a talk.
- In the drugstore, Mr. Howard warns him that Hill will be tough and that outsiders tend to be unhappy there.
- Huff appears in the drugstore. Jack is worried that he will be spotted and his "cover" will be blown. Huff doesn't notice him and he slips out quietly with Mr. Howard.
- Mr. Howard warns him again that prep school can be tough. Jack makes tough noises and Mr. Howard drives him home.