Alfred’s first week of training is tortuous. One night his arms are so sore that he wakes up moaning, “his arms as heavy as cement sacks, his fingers numb.” Charlene, one of his cousins, is concerned and wants to wake her mother, but Alfred says it was just a bad dream.

The second week is worse. The trainers and the other trainees all yell at him and laugh when the medicine ball knocks him over; he can hardly lift his arms up to his locker after the workouts.

That Sunday, Aunt Pearl takes him to Reverend Price and says he needs guidance; a part of him wants the reverend to make him quit. Price assumes Alfred is in trouble, but is unconcerned when he hears that Alfred is boxing.

By the middle of the third week, the pain begins to fade. Sometimes Alfred gets plenty of help; other days, no one but Henry even notices him. This week he wakes up before the alarm goes off, and he feels fresh and strong when he runs.

His hour of running is the best part of Alfred’s day, although he wishes James were running with him; he would even slow down so James could keep up with him. Thinking about this makes Alfred sad, and he runs even faster to push such thoughts out of his mind. Henry is the closest thing he has to a partner, but Henry will never feel the exhilaration of running.

One afternoon there is no one in the store, and Alfred throws some punches as he watches his reflection on the stainless steel food locker door. Lou Epstein sees him and gives him a few boxing tips. Epstein was once known as Lightning Lou Epp. Bud Martin mentioned Epp was a good fighter but got too cut too easily. Epstein encourages Alfred to quit, as few boxers can make a living now because the business is too corrupt.

In July, Aunt Pearl and the girls leave for a while; Alfred enjoys the solitude. Doctor Corey gives him a generic mouthpiece and says that one day he might be good enough for a custom-fitted one. Alfred has to learn to breathe out of his nose. On his way home one night, he meets Major apologizes for their earlier misunderstanding.

Willy Streeter comes back to the gym, “sullen and overweight.” Donatelli takes him to a training camp before an out-of-town fight, and things often grow tense in the overheated gym. Alfred is frustrated. He has been training for six weeks and gained six pounds but has never thrown an actual punch.

Major comes to the gym one day and says James will be at the clubroom party tonight. Alfred cannot concentrate on his workout and Donatelli says he has to work harder. Henry warns him not to go to the clubroom while he is in training, but Alfred is disgruntled at everything and pushes past him. All his effort seems futile, so Alfred goes to the clubroom to see James.