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Chapter 8

> The scrimmage opponent—East Norwich middle school—makes me wonder if Hiawassee really is in Georgia or if it’s part of Long Island, where the real East Norwich is located. 

> When Chase is at the scrimmage to capture some video yearbook footage, he starts out by saying it all feels unfamiliar—the video camera he’s carrying, and also the whole football field. But pretty soon he’s vividly remembering the mechanics of playing football.

> Chase seemed to be acting like such a great big brother when he was filming Helene with her Barbie dolls. I thought he may have been having an important moment when he remembered her from the past—and how he had decapitated her favorite teddy bear. It seemed like he was about to realize what a jerk he had been and start to feel bad for his old behavior. But then he seems to get swept up in the rush of football fantasies and the “growing moment” screeches to a halt.

@Jade: “I feel like this is only a glimpse into all of the bad things the old Chase did.” — Right?!? He seems to have sprouted a conscience along with the concussion, and it’s pretty clear he was a rotten kid before that happened. You know it’s not going to be a smooth re-entry when his memories flood back. … You are giving Frank more credit for “being there” than I did. I kind of saw it as Frank likes to watch football, even if Chase isn’t part of it, but it’s a good way for him and Chase to bond, so I’m happy they share it, too.