Chapter 17 Summary

Toby's Dad is upset with him for not going to the funeral and refuses to speak to him the next day. Toby can think of no one he can turn to so he goes to the bowling alley since Ferris is the only other person in town who did not go to the funeral. The sheriff and the local septic tank man are at Zachary's trailer, cleaning out his sewage tank.

Ferris is hung over and complaining that his one waitress is out sick today. Toby volunteers to help out and Ferris jumps at the free help. At lunchtime, the sheriff comes over and has his regular hamburger with jalapesos, telling Ferris about Zachary's sewage tank. The sheriff is concerned about Zachary because there still has not been any word from Paulie Rankin. The sheriff says he found out that Zachary's mother died...