The conditions on the boat contribute to the conflict Pavel experiences.

Pavel’s fellow passengers encourage him to remain hopeful about purchasing land.

The letter from Pavel’s uncle introduces an important character.

The man standing in front of the soup pot provides comic relief.

Pavel is immigrating to America to join his uncle. Many other people are also making the long journey to America. On the lowest deck of the boat, it is very crowded. Pavel thinks of a song to sing, and eventually others begin to sing and dance, too.

Some immigrants traveling to America are crowded together in the lowest deck of a boat. Pavel thinks about a letter from his uncle that tells about the life that Pavel will find when he reaches Texas. The letter describes the beautiful sky, the clean air, and the promise of endless farmland. Pavel looks forward to being there.

The trip to America is a long and difficult one, and the space below the decks is crowded and smelly. The only food is soup that the travelers must share. Pavel thinks about the people on the upper decks who can eat while sitting at a table. He finally gets soup for himself.

Pavel is traveling with many other immigrants on a boat to America. To avoid thinking about the smelly, crowded conditions, Pavel reflects on a letter from his uncle, who has settled in Texas. Pavel shows that he is focused on his goals when he thinks of a way to avoid a bully.

Kirby is shooting baskets in the gym before basketball tryouts. His cousin Bragger wants him to try out for the team because Kirby loves basketball, but Kirby insists he is not good enough as a player. As Coach Armstrong hands out permission slips, Kirby considers contributing to the team in a way that does not include playing.

While Kirby shoots baskets in the gym, he thinks about what it would be like to be a star basketball player. When some other boys ask him to stop standing around, he attempts a shot. Even though the ball misses the basket, Kirby’s cousin Bragger tells Kirby he is not as bad as he thinks.

After Kirby misses a basketball shot, his cousin Bragger offers him some advice about technique. Kirby does not want to take Bragger seriously and insists that he will not try out for the team, despite his love of the game. Bragger decides that he will have to make sure the team wins and attempts a shot at the basket.

Even though Kirby doubts his ability to play basketball, his cousin Bragger wants him to try out for the team. Kirby says he will not try out for the team, even though he loves basketball. As Coach Armstrong hands out permission slips, Kirby tries to convince himself that he will not try out for the team.

It gives him an opportunity to learn from skilled basketball players.

It allows him to share information about his favorite basketball players.

It forces him to have an uncomfortable conversation with the coach.

It makes him feel insecure about his basketball skills.

It allows the characters to witness an uncommon event.

It offers the characters a chance to develop new relationships.

It causes the characters to feel unsafe.

It gives the characters the opportunity to identify a problem.