He fantasizes about belonging to another, better family. Then he thinks about what he should get Leslie. He has barely any money, but really wants to give his friend a present.
Jess considers giving her some drawings, but they aren't as good as he wants them to be. He has to use the little money he has to buy presents for the other family members, like a Barbie for May Belle. Jess thinks if he were rich he'd get Leslie a TV.
He's despondent, riding the bus, but then he suddenly sees a sign out the window. He jumps out, even though it's not his stop, and heads toward a place where puppies are being given away for free. Jess has a plan: he gets the puppy all ready and arranges to see Leslie at Terabithia on Christmas Eve.
He takes special care of the puppy getting over to Terabithia and isn't even mad when it pees on him. Leslie loves the present. It is clear here that Jess's father does care about him and wants him to be happy and his attempt to bridge the gap between them with an expensive present is touching. However, he makes the same mistake that Jess almost makes in selecting a present for Leslie. He assumes that more expensive presents are better presents and will make the recipient happier.
He thinks Jess will like the racecars, but it shows how little he really knows Jess, that he would select that particular present. A better present would have been art supplies, or a book, or new running shoes.
By splurging on this present, we are shown that Jess's father really does care about him, but it also demonstrates that the ties between them are tenuous, based on automatic, uneasy familial love rather than a relationship grounded in true knowledge of one another and mutual understanding.
SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Important Quotes Explained. Book Full Book Quiz. Study Questions. Summary Christmas is coming up, and Jess cannot figure out what to get for Leslie.
Jesse becomes jealous of the time she spends with her dad, but after a while he joins them. They enjoy their time together and in the process, renovate the living room.
A few months later, Leslie tells Jesse she has heard Janice Avery crying in the girls' restroom. Leslie doesn't want to have anything to do with Janice, but Jesse thinks they should try to find out what is wrong. Leslie finally gives in and goes back to the restroom to talk to Janice. Jess is afraid Janice will hit Leslie, but Leslie returns to class unhurt. She tells him later, that Janice's father beats her. Jess says a lot of dads do that. The problem for Janice is she told her friends and they told everyone at school.
Leslie's advice to her is to pretend they are making up the story. She lets Janice know the problem at school will soon blow over. In the process of giving Janice advice, Leslie gained a sort of friend. She tells Jesse she now has one and a half friends. This makes her happy and Jesse a little sad for her, because she feels lonely. That night May Belle tells Jesse she knows about Terabithia.
He makes her promise not to tell anyone, but he worries she will blab the information. Easter is fast approaching, which makes Brenda and Ellie nervous, because they have nothing to wear to church. Their mother is about to take all the children clothes shopping when Dad returns home early from work.
He has been laid off, which means no new clothes and the family is going to have to figure out how to live without his income. Jesse escapes from the wails of the girls to the shed, so he can milk the cow in peace and quiet.
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