The Goal

Alex arrives back home and demands that Julie tell him where she was last night—he called the house repeatedly and no one answered. She is offended that he assumes she did something wrong and calls him out on his double standard: “How many times have you been late, or out of town, or who knows where?” (91). Alex passive-aggressively accuses her of having an affair, which she denies. Alex tries to make her understand the stress he’s under at work, but Julie accuses him of having no idea what her life at home is like. She misses him and begs him to at least bring some work home. He promises to come home early the next night. 

On Saturday, Alex’s son Davey wakes him up early. Alex had forgotten that he agreed to chaperone Davey’s Boy Scout trip, an overnight camping trip to the woods. He leaves Julie sleeping. When he and Davey arrive at the woods, Alex discovers he is the only chaperone. Alex must lead the group of ten-year-old boys on a trail to “Devil’s Gulch” (95) where they will camp for the night, then lead them out of the woods to the pickup location.