Without Jido, he feels that football means nothing. In his bedroom, he tears his Bears poster down and leaves it on the floor.

NFL Fact #18 explains that the area on the field where it is too far to kick a field goal but there is not enough space for an effective punt is called the dead zone. Kareem compares this to his struggles with how to grieve for Jido, whom he only knew through phone calls.

On Sunday, Jameelah forces Kareem out of bed, telling him to stop feeling sorry for himself and to do the dishes.

While Baba talks to Mama about funeral arrangements, the doorbell rings: Khale Afaf and Fadi are there with a plate of Syrian cheese pies shaped like footballs. Kareem wonders how Fadi can be so nice to him. Finding meaning in books, Kareem thinks of the main character in Locomotion, who writes poetry to work through his feelings after his parents’ deaths.

Baba makes Kareem go to school. With detention over, he goes to gym. When Austin is mean to him, Kareem asks if Austin is not allowed to play because his homework has suffered without Kareem’s help. They continue until Coach intervenes. When Austin calls Kareem a bully, Kareem tells Coach that he refuses to do Austin’s homework anymore and walks away. He can hear Coach talking angrily to Austin.

The next day, when Kareem gets to math, Austin calls him a “Cereal loser.” Loudly, Kareem corrects him, and Fadi notices.

It is now February, and Baba still does not know when Mama will return. Kareem overhears him telling Jameelah that Shabeeha, government agents named after ghosts “because / they make people / disappear” (240), visited Mama’s parents’ house.

On Thursday, Coach asks Kareem to practice with the Spring Squad. Passing Austin on the bench, Coach tells Kareem to play quarterback. He tries, but the ball just falls, and he wonders how important football really is. Surprising himself, Kareem tells Coach that Austin should play quarterback. As Austin looks on in shock, Coach pulls Kareem aside.

When Kareem shares that his grandfather in Syria died, Coach kneels, and Kareem is reminded of Jido. Tears fall in giant sobs, and Kareem hugs himself. He believes that the pain will never go away.

NFL Fact #19 defines “encroachment” as a penalty committed before the snap when a defensive player moves across the line of scrimmage.

Coach tells Kareem that he does not have to play now but that once he is ready, he can join the team. Shocked, Kareem asks about Austin. Coach tenses and replies that Austin must improve both academically and athletically. Shocked because Baba has never made him feel inferior, Kareem gasps that Austin is Coach’s son. Standing, Coach tells him to think about football. Then, Kareem sees Austin, who heard everything, sneak away.

On the way home, Kareem wants to apologize to Fadi, so he writes a note slowly in Arabic. Ge gives his friend the letter when they drop him off.

NFL Fact #20 explains that “PAT” stands for the point after a touchdown that is kicked through the goal posts.

In his apology letter to Fadi, Kareem says that he should have been kinder when Fadi arrived from Syria. Kareem also admits to fearing being called Syrian and being considered different. Since his best friend moved away, Kareem has been trying to make the football team and be friends with Austin, but he does not want to compromise on being a good person. He would prefer not playing football if it means protecting a friend. Calling Fadi his friend, Kareem says that he hopes Fadi will forgive him but understands if it does not happen.

On Saturday, Baba sits with Kareem in his room and asks about the Bears poster on the floor. When Kareem does not say anything, Baba gently encourages him to talk. Kareem blurts out that he should not play football because of all the bad things he has done and because it is his fault that Jido is dead. Baba hugs Kareem and cries, too. Then, he tells his son that it was unlikely that Jido would have survived the flight to America. He emphasizes that Kareem is a good son and encourages him to be the first Syrian American player in the NFL.

Kareem recalls how the main character in Hatchet crashed in Canada with only the title weapon to survive. Like in football, when a team is pushed back, he persevered.

Kareem feels better after talking with Baba, but the feeling only lasts until his father takes a phone call.

NFL Fact #21 explains that a “peanut punch” is a move named after a former Bears player who punched the ball from his opponent’s grip. Baba tells Kareem that Mama and Tete are missing.

After calling everyone in Syria, Baba and Kareem still know nothing, so they pray.

In the morning, Baba still has not heard from Mama. The news is on all day. As he listens, Kareem wonders if lawmakers realize that they are keeping mothers from their families. Today is the Super Bowl, but Kareem does not want to watch.

Fadi and his family bring over a cooked lamb dish, one of Mama’s favorites. After dinner, Fadi hugs Kareem and thanks him for the letter. Then, Jerry arrives to support Kareem and to watch the Super Bowl. Kareem realizes that he has two real friends.

The Super Bowl ends with the Patriots coming back from a huge deficit. Kareem is inspired by their victory.

Later, Fadi shares his experience during the Syrian Revolution, protesting families being torn apart and children being imprisoned and tortured. The Shabeeha arrested people like Fadi’s father, who was eventually set free. Then, he describes bombs and tear gas and how his family fled. Fadi cries but says that his mother always encouraged him to be hopeful. Suddenly, Kareem gets an idea and some hope.

Kareem decides to ask to borrow his sister’s phone to put a plan into action.