OCDaniel

Before bed that night Daniel stands in front of the mirror and reflects on the nature of his condition. He wonders whether knowing about his OCD and naming it allows him to make it any better. He also wonders about the nature of mental illnesses, asking himself “if it was just something that was broken” or if it was “there for a reason” (228). Despite these reflections he gets zapped anyway and brushes his teeth until his gums bleed.

At school the next day, where he is now getting called “Dan the Man” (228) in a positive way, he has a conversation with Raya. She says that her dad will allow him round to her house to “hang out” even after he caught them kissing. She touches him on the arm.

At football practice the original kicker, Kevin, who has now recovered, confronts Daniel. Kevin accuses Daniel of stealing his spot and refuses to see as sincere Daniel’s offer to give it back. 

Meeting Sara after practice, she talks more about her dad and how he used to argue with her mom about how much she worked and went out. She also reveals that he drank. Sara shows Daniel pictures of her and her dad together, saying when asked whether she talked to him, “That he was the only one in the world.