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Andrew’s anxiety intensifies as Mr. Stanley guides him to the eye wash station. Although Andrew is unharmed, his skin and his new shirt are covered in purple stains. When the teacher demands to know who tampered with Andrew’s experiment, the boy feels as if he is on the verge of a panic attack. Mr. Stanley sends him to the nurse’s office, but Andrew and Jonesy are called to Principal Espinosa’s office while he’s in the hallway.

The 12th Anxiety File presents “Fun Nicknames for Anxiety,” such as “noggin ferrets” (196).

Two police officers are waiting for the children in the principal’s office. They haven’t had any success and are hoping that Andrew and Jonesy might have other ideas where G could be. Even though Jonesy is still upset with Andrew, she offers him support and encouragement. Mika still hasn’t been able to reach Susan, and neither she nor Andrew can remember the name of Susan’s new employer, but Andrew has the man’s business card in his locker. Jonesy accompanies Andrew to his locker, and he apologizes to her for what he said.

Andrew gives Don McAndrews’ business card to the police, and they inform Susan of the situation. Hearing his mother’s voice brings tears to Andrew’s eyes, but he tries to assure her that he’s all right. He wants to go home and help his mother search for G, but the officers tell him and Jonesy to go to class.

Inside the art room, Andrew sees his battered and stained reflection and begins to have a panic attack. Jonesy and the art teacher, Mr. Kellerman, try to comfort him because they can tell that something is wrong. He attempts to use his visualization exercise, but he is already hyperventilating. In his panicked state, the boy hits Mr. Kellerman in the face when the teacher tries to put his hands on his shoulders. Andrew’s worst fear comes true as his classmates watch him sobbing uncontrollably.

Mr. Kellerman sends Jonesy to get Nurse Finnegan and then carefully guides Andrew outside. Andrew curls up on the ground and closes his eyes. After what feels like an interminable length of time, he’s able to open his eyes and hear Mr. Kellerman trying to coach him through a grounding exercise.

The 13th Anxiety File is entitled “Ways to Help Yourself in a Panic Attack.” It advises breathing, touching something real, closing your eyes, and reminding yourself that “a velociraptor isn’t chasing you. Even though it feels like it” (226).

Mr. Kellerman guides Andrew to name five things he can see, four things he can touch, three things he can hear, two things he can smell, and one thing he can taste. The grounding exercise helps him feel a little more connected to reality. He apologizes for hitting Mr. Kellerman, but the teacher understands that Andrew wasn’t in control of his reactions. Mr. Kellerman confides that he also has anxiety and panic attacks, which astonishes Andrew. The teacher explains that he hasn’t had an attack in years because he’s learned to manage his condition over time. He compares learning to live with anxiety to accepting an “annoying, anxious, worry-wart friend who shows up at the worst times” (233). Mr. Kellerman suggests that there is a connection between Andrew’s anxiety and traits that Andrew appreciates about himself, such as his imagination.

Jonesy and Nurse Finnegan find Andrew and Mr. Kellerman, and Andrew tells the nurse that he’s starting to feel calmer. Jonesy begins to cry and tells her friend, “That was really freakin’ scary, Andrew! I had no idea you…that it could be that…” (235). She takes Andrew’s hand, and he resolves to thank her and the other individuals who helped him once he feels like he can do so without crying.

When Andrew returns to class, he’s surprised by his classmates’ empathy and understanding. A few students share that they have family members who also experience panic attacks. At the end of class, Jonesy gives Andrew a big hug before heading to the gym. Andrew thanks Mr. Kellerman for his help. The teacher tells him that he’s welcome to talk to him anytime and then takes him to the nurse’s office because Andrew is physically and emotionally drained after his panic attack.

The 14th Anxiety File is titled “After a Panic Attack” and compares Tense Kid to a limp noodle.

Mr. Kellerman accidentally calls the nurse Gracie in front of Andrew and admits that the two are in a relationship. Andrew isn’t particularly interested in this revelation, especially in his depleted state. Principal Espinosa comes to see the boy and sympathetically observes, “It seems you’ve had a day for the ages” (247). Andrew catches a glimpse of G’s bright pink housecoat and hurries into the hallway. His grandmother thinks that she is decades in the past when she taught social studies at the school and the principal was one of her students. Andrew’s relief at seeing her safe and sound brings tears to his eyes, and he hugs her. Casually, she says, “Oh. Hey, Andrew” (249).

Andrew, Jonesy, Susan, Mika, G, and the police officers who visited the school earlier that day gather in the principal’s office. Everyone is relieved that G is unhurt, and she seems content albeit puzzled by all the commotion. Andrew asks his mother if she’ll be able to keep her job even though she left on her first day. She explains that Mr. McAndrews’s father had Alzheimer’s, so he drove Susan home and helped search for G. She’s worried when she sees her son’s black eye and ruined shirt, and Jonesy says that Gene is responsible. One of the officers mentions that the police have been called “out to his house more times than [he] can count” (254), but not for Gene. The last two homerooms are called to the annex for their pictures, and Andrew laughs because his and Jonesy’s homeroom is included.

Susan and Principal Espinosa both tell Andrew that he doesn’t have to have his picture taken now, but he says that he’s “earned this photo” (257). He feels tremendous relief because G is all right and because he lived through his worst nightmare. He tells himself, “If I can survive that, I can survive anything” (259).

While they’re waiting in line for pictures, Andrew tries to talk to Gene. When Andrew turns to look at Jonesy and the other students nervously watching this interaction, Gene tries to punch him. Instead, the bully is hit in the nose when Andrew gestures expressively. Andrew apologetically explains that this was an accident, encourages Gene to make peace with the class because none of them want to fight him, and reminds him of positive memories from their elementary years. Gene mutters that he’s glad that Andrew’s grandmother is all right and then walks away.

Andrew apologizes to Jonesy for his rudeness earlier that day and suggests that they sit with her teammates at lunch the next day. Inspired by the courage Andrew showed in talking to his bully, Jonesy resolves to tell her father that she doesn’t want to become a professional athlete.

When it’s Andrew’s turn to have his picture taken, the startled photographer takes in “the whole glorious mess” of the boy’s appearance (268). Andrew poses for the picture with a big goofy grin and takes some deep breaths.