Running Loose

That evening, after dinner, Louie takes a drive in his pickup. He spontaneously drives to Salmon River and stops at a café for a burger. Inside, he spots Washington with his teammates and notices his ribs are still tightly bound. Louie considers approaching them but decides against it. As he is about to leave, he sees Sally Larson, a girl who used to live in Trout. He says hello and tells her he quit football. He then asks after Washington. Sally tells him that Washington will resume playing in a couple of weeks. Louie is disappointed: “My sacrifice had been for a couple of bruised ribs. Washington wasn’t dead or anything” (82). Louie asks Sally if Washington faces any discrimination for being Black in Salmon River, and she assures him he doesn’t. Sally describes Washington as funny and smart. Louie says goodbye and leaves. As he drives home, he wishes he had asked Sally to introduce him to Washington.

Life settles into a routine for Louie for the remainder of the football season and into the winter. The most challenging aspect is not going to the games. Although he wants to support Carter and the team, he finds it difficult to be a spectator when he can’t participate. The season ends with Trout winning the league and Salmon River finishing second. The gym is dedicated to Lednecky, with golden letters above the entrance. Meanwhile, Louie’s relationship with Becky deepens, and they become more physically intimate. Despite his absence from the field, Louie still hangs out with Carter and acknowledges that Carter “kept [him] feeling okay about [himself] without the help of sports” (86).

In early November, Louie begins cross-country skiing and spends most of his time on the hills around Trout. As soon as Boomer finds out, he makes fun of Louie. Becky skis with him occasionally, but her time is mostly consumed by scholarship tests and studying. One weekend, Louie and Becky take a ski trip to her family’s summer cabin. Louie asks Norm for permission but asks Norm to keep it from Brenda, who might have reservations about him going alone with a girl. Norm agrees to keep the secret. On Saturday morning, Louie picks up Becky. They’re both nervous yet excited. Once they get to the turnoff, they put on their skis and start skiing out to the cabin. When they get to the slope leading to the cabin, Becky expresses some apprehension about the steepness, but she manages to navigate it. Once at the cabin, Louie’s nerves intensify, but Becky assures him they can take things slow.

Louie and Becky have lunch and discuss their post-graduation plans. Becky has been accepted to Stanford, while Louie still hasn’t applied anywhere. He hopes to find a college close to Becky’s and feels hopeful: He reflects that it is “starting to seem there really [is] justice in the world” (95). Washington’s triumph over Boomer on the basketball court brings Louie a sense of satisfaction. After their meal, Becky starts to undress Louie. Louie expresses his hesitations, but Becky responds with maturity. She acknowledges that intimacy can be scary, but there’s no right or wrong. They proceed, and afterward, Louie opens up about his fears of losing Becky to California. In response, Becky offers comforting words, reminding Louie that tough times can deepen appreciation for happiness. She reassures him that her going to California won’t change their connection.

Present-day Louie reflects on the loss of Becky, revealing that she has died. The narrative then flashes back to Saturday, March 21. Louie is at his father’s station when Dakota races by in his makeshift ambulance, its siren wailing and horn blaring. Carter jokes that Dakota must be off to get a sandwich. Later, Brenda arrives and delivers devastating news: Becky has been in an accident and drove her car into the river. Stunned, Louie rushes to the bridge, where he finds Dakota slamming the ambulance’s back door. Dakota sees Louie and somberly shakes his head. Shocked, Louie tries to get to the river, but Dakota intervenes: “There’s nothin’ you can do. Give yourself a break” (102). Carter arrives and, seeing the situation, immediately offers to accompany Louie back.

Later that evening, Louie drives to the meadow where he and Becky went on their first date. Though he’s not religious, he tries to communicate with God, expressing his disbelief and frustration: “This just isn’t acceptable,” he says, “I didn’t do anything to deserve it” (103). Met with silence, Louie gets the axe he keeps in his pickup and chops down a tree in the meadow. Eventually, he drives back home.