The next time Johnny Cakes offers a job to Beans, Beans says no, even though Johnny offers to pay double. The dogcatcher picks up Termite, and Beans worries about him all afternoon at school; When Beans and the gang go to the New Dealers’ volunteer offices, one recognizes Beans from his good deed and allows him to take Termite home. Beans realizes some New Dealers are good people. Beans goes to a movie and sits with the haint in the balcony; this time, he asks his name and learns it is Murray. After the movie, Beans and Murray walk toward home. Murray points out the good changes in the streets and to the properties. Beans notices how much better the air smells. He gets the idea to join the efforts to help the town since he cannot help the damage he caused and cannot bring himself to tell the truth.

Beans returns to the volunteer offices and takes volunteer work cleaning outhouses, sweeping trash, collecting dead bugs from water collection containers. His mother tells him again he is a good boy, and with less guilt on his conscience now, Beans has some hope. One night he returns a shovel to the volunteer offices and encounters a forlorn Mr.