The Pinballs

Harvey waits in his wheelchair on the Masons’ porch, expecting his father to visit. Despite Mrs. Mason’s protests, Carlie wants to sit with him while he waits so she can see the “creep” who ran him over. She finagles her way onto the porch after promising that she’ll leave the moment his father arrives.

Carlie tells Harvey that the mail came earlier without letters for either of them. She thinks her mom has been getting her letters and not writing back, but they aren't sure if Harvey’s mother received the letters he sent to the farm. Seeing Harvey’s apprehension about his father’s arrival, Carlie asks what lists he’s been making recently. He says he read that everyone is famous for 15 minutes in their lives, so he made a list of the ways he’d want to spend those minutes. Carlie describes how she’d spend her 15 minutes and asks Harvey about his; she asks new questions whenever his anxiety rises as he waits.

When his father arrives, driving the car he ran over Harvey in, Carlie leaves. She turns back at the last moment to tell him she’ll be right inside and she’s a good ally in a fight.