Stand Tall

Even though Mr. Cosgrove insists that no more animals are allowed, more keep coming, and Tree frantically builds more cages. As he works, questions swirl through his brain. He worries about Sophie and wonders where she is. When Jeremy Liggins arrives with hamsters, Mr. Cosgrove, who has witnessed Jeremy bully Tree in the past, resolutely says no to putting the animals in the basement. However, when Tree argues on the hamsters’ behalf, the janitor relents.

Back upstairs, Tree’s dad informs everyone that Mom is safe in Philadelphia, but that she worries about them. Then, Dad expresses pride in Tree for helping everyone. A few minutes later, Mayor Diner informs everyone that the rain and flooding continue. She encourages everyone to support each other because the most valuable thing in the town is the people. Later, Eli arrives with Fred, and just as Mr. Cosgrove is about to deny the bird entrance to the basement, Fred says, “You’re a genius” (152), and the janitor softens. Everyone sleeps on mats, the rain continues, and phone lines are down. Tree worries about Sophie as Grandpa compares the flood to war.

After two more days, the rain stops. Even though the sun shines, streets are flooded, the town smells, and there is a lot of damage. Grandpa wires an electric sign and gets the help of the Trash King and the rabbi to put it on the roof of the Temple. The sign says, “WELCOME HOME, FOLKS WE’RE GOING TO MAKE IT” (155). Despite this encouragement, there is destruction everywhere, especially in Dad’s home, which is flooded. Everything smells and is covered in muck. Grandpa insists they will rebuild, but Tree is not so sure. He begins to cry.

As Tree sniffles, Grandpa explains that everything above the water line is fine. When he kicks through the wall, he also sees that the plumbing and framing are intact. Tree acknowledges that the house is salvageable. They begin cleaning and stay in a hotel that night. When Tree calls Sophie, he is relieved to learn that she and her family are okay. She is sad about his house but adds that his family is lucky to have someone so big and strong to help, boosting Tree’s confidence.

After pumping out the basement, they toss trash in a dumpster. When Tree feels overwhelmed, Grandpa urges him to focus on something positive. Sophie also comes over to help. Once the basement is drained, Tree finds his brothers’ old sports awards and keeps two of them. Not long after the flood, Tree notices that the white oak in the park is budding. Unlike other trees, it is unscathed. One day, Sophie reveals that Lassie died. When she cries, Tree takes her hand. Then, he shares that his whole family, including Bradley, is going to stay at his mom’s house until his dad’s is fixed up. Convinced that a flood is not all bad, he hopes his parents will get back together.

That night they all go to Mom’s house, but she scolds them for being early. Dad insists they are on time, and things become tense. Once inside, Tree’s mom announces that she has a date. An uninteresting man named Richard appears, and Conan attacks him. After awkward introductions, Mom and Richard leave, but not before Conan attacks the man again. Tree is deflated that his mom is on a date. After a pasta dinner, they wait for her to return home. When she does, Tree’s parents immediately begin fighting.

The next day, Curtis and Larry arrive, and they stay at Mom’s house while Dad goes to a hotel. When they see the house, Larry gets mad, but Curtis asks what they can do first. Under the direction of Grandpa, they mask up and put on gloves to Clorox the basement as a “fighting unit to kill the bacteria” (169). Then, when the boys hesitate to knock down the walls, Grandpa reminds them that to fix something, you must break it apart first. They spend the rest of the day in demolition mode, and their dad is shocked by the progress when he returns from work. Later, Tree cleans, polishes, and restores Larry’s medal and Curtis’s trophy that he saved earlier. By 4:30 in the morning, the awards are gleaming.

Before Larry and Curtis return to college, the boys play basketball together. When Tree makes a shot, his brothers compliment him, and he relishes the moment. When Dad and Grandpa pull up, Tree gives each brother a gift, their newly cleaned awards. Both are amazed and grateful. The brothers hug. At school, the mean girls leave Sophie alone, and at home, the construction progresses quickly. When Tree’s mom asks how he feels, he tells her he wishes that they never got a divorce, but that he is okay.

On Memorial Day, the Vietnam veterans march in the town parade. Grandpa walks next to the Trash King and Tree, who is holding the American flag. Everyone marches to remember and commemorate the wars everyone fights in their own lives. There are veterans from many different wars, and it seems that the whole town is either marching or watching. When Grandpa slows and begins to limp, Mona jumps into the parade and directs him to a car. Grandpa relents and gets in the Jeep; when he takes off his prosthetic and raises his leg to the crowd, they cheer.

In the park, Sophie compares Tree to the great white oak, and he encourages her to be herself during her flute solo. She delivers a great performance, and then the mayor reads a poem. When they try to light the candle of hope, the wind blows it out. Sophie pushes Tree forward, so he can stand in front of the candle and block the wind. When everyone cheers, Tree feels content, like he made the winning shot in a basketball game. He realizes that being tall is not so bad and that it gives him a purpose he never saw before.