The Running Dream

Physical therapy continues for Jessica as she is continuously reminded by her parents and Fiona to keep up with her sessions. When Fiona is visiting one day, Jessica receives a surprise phone call from Gavin Vance, a student at her school. Jessica has long had a crush on Gavin, the mayor’s son, and she’s stunned that he has thought enough of her to make a call.

The conversation is predictably awkward at first with Gavin not knowing what to say. But he eventually tells Jessica that he wants to interview her for an article about the accident for the school paper. Jessica reacts negatively, telling him she isn’t ready to talk about what happened. She lies and says she needs to get back to physical therapy and ends the call with him.

Fiona is amazed that Gavin called for Jessica, thoughJessica is less than impressed. She thinks that “if it took losing a leg to get him to notice me, I’d rather be ignored” (31).

Jessica’s appetite is revived by a serving of lasagna, which her mother brings to the hospital for her. Digging eagerly into the meal, Jessica thinks that she is “happy to not be pretending” (31) for once.