River’s friend Mark had to have his leg amputated above the knee, so River has been spending most of his free time at the hospital with him. River and Mark also watch Obama’s inauguration on TV at the hospital. River notices that most people around him have tears in their eyes as Obama is sworn in, including Dr. Patel. However, later that night, he heard a man in the waiting room call Obama the n-word. He struggles to know how to respond. On one hand, he wants to stand up for what he believes in, but on the other, he’s scared to speak up. River feels like Obama’s inauguration as the first black president means that anything is possible, and he values its historical significance.

River’s parents have been getting along well, and his relationship with his father feels like it used to when he was younger. His mother hasn’t had any headaches since the rock fall incident, and she has been helping Mawmaw prepare for the rally. Mawmaw teaches the people who will come to the march how to get arrested without getting hurt, just in case they are taken to jail. The night before the march, River calls his teammates, and they all decide to join the march for Town Mountain in honor of Mark.