Rascal

Wowser and Poe enthusiastically greet Sterling upon his arrival back home. Unfortunately, though, the time has come for Sterling to keep his word and get a leash, collar, and cage for Rascal. He reckons that the money this will cost him will delay the completion of the canoe by a season. He’s pained that he has to do it.

Sterling takes his money down to the leather worker Garth Shadwick’s store, where he explains that he’s been compelled to get a collar for Rascal. Shadwick criticizes Sterling’s neighbors for picking on him, but he obliges and makes a fine collar with a silver buckle. Sterling puts it on Rascal, and surprisingly, Rascal doesn’t mind it. Shadwick shows Rascal his reflection, which baffles him, as he’s never seen a mirror before. Shadwick then makes a leash. Sterling gives him what money he has and promises to make regular payments in the coming months, but Shadwick kindly tells him that a quarter will suffice. Riding home, Sterling and Rascal are cheered up.

School starting is delayed by a month, since men are off in the war and children are needed for the harvest. Sterling works his vegetable garden, and he reluctantly concedes that it’s time to build Rascal a cage. A miserly shopkeeper who hates Rascal takes all of Sterling’s money in exchange for chicken wire.

Sterling has been reading a pulp novel about the war and imagining Herschel in danger. He gets a letter from Herschel saying he’s unharmed, which raises Sterling’s spirits. He and Rascal climb into the nook of a tree to read for the afternoon. Sterling wishes they could stay up there forever. He sees himself and Rascal inscribed in the constellations.

Observing which area of the yard Rascal prefers, Sterling begins building the cage, incorporating a cubby for Rascal to crawl into. Rascal enjoys climbing around in it while it’s in progress, not understanding its ultimate purpose, and Sterling is grateful for his company, since his father is off in Montana for two weeks. Sterling continues to delay the finishing touches, dreading the moment he must lock Rascal inside.

The annual Irish Picnic and Horse Fair approaches, and Sterling’s neighbor Mike Conway is expected to race his prize horse, Donnybrook, with whom Rascal is friends. Mike Conway has a running feud with his neighbor Reverend Thurman, who takes pride in his noisy new automobile. Thurman recently pressured Conway into taking a ride in his car, then made a point of scaring him with his reckless maneuvers. Conway then gets him back, offering him a ride in his carriage and then taking off at full blast, scaring Thurman silly. Rumors have spread that they will settle the feud at the Irish fair, so Sterling goes to ask Thurman about it, but Thurman angrily threatens to skin Rascal if he comes on his property again.

The day of the fair, Sterling scrapes together the last of his money and bikes off with Rascal to the fairgrounds, which are bursting with excitement. They eagerly survey the goods, foods, and animals on display. They head to the stables and get a look at the horses, including Donnybrook. Rascal is delighted, and Sterling takes him on the merry-go-round and Ferris wheel.

Sterling runs into his friend Oscar Sunderland, and they agree to try their luck in the pie-eating contest, which requires the contestants to have their hands tied behind their back. Sterling finds himself seated right across from his enemy, the mean-spirited Slammy Stillman.

The contest begins, and everyone furiously digs in, but Sterling is worried that Slammy is pulling away from him. Suddenly, Rascal arrives and starts helping Sterling out, eating some of the pie and holding the dish in place. Slammy cries cheater, slowing himself down further. Sterling and Rascal win handily. The judges are amused but unsure what to say about this, so they give the prize to Oscar, who pulled into second while Slammy was distracted, and a consolation prize to Sterling.

Soon, the horse races begin, but the crowd eventually realizes that Donnybrook isn’t participating. It turns out that Conway has bet Thurman that he can run three laps of the track on Donnybrook before Thurman gets two in his car (a car is normally twice as fast as a horse, so this is an ambitious bet). The catch is that Thurman must wait to start his car until the starting gun fires. Predictably, Thurman bungles the ignition and his car backfires repeatedly, while Donnybrook runs laps. Thurman finally gets going and pulls close, but not close enough; Conway and Donnybrook are victorious.

Sterling and Rascal return to an empty house, with no update from Sterling’s father. Sterling grits his teeth and forces himself to finally lock Rascal in the cage. Rascal is immediately confused and panics, running in circles. Sterling tries to flee his cries by going indoors, but eventually he can’t take it; he goes back and lets Rascal out, bringing him into bed with him.