Arthur’s reaction to the news Mr. Hampton is dying shows he still has growth to do. Arthur runs from Mr. Hampton and his probation assignment because he doesn’t feel prepared to deal with another death so close to his dad dying. Over the next few days, Arthur experiences the same anger and sadness he’s held for his dad since the book’s start. He doesn’t take Squeak’s foil at lunch, showing Arthur isn’t ready to think about Mr. Hampton yet. Arthur’s dream brings all his emotions about his dad back to the surface. Arthur doesn’t manage to save his dad in the dream, which foreshadows Mr. Hampton’s death.

In Chapter 33, people throw food at Arthur and Squeak in the cafeteria. Arthur gets angry, but Squeak remains calm and solves the problem. When Vice comes to investigate, Squeak still remains calm, and Arthur realizes he judged Squeak, just like Judge Warner and Vice judged Arthur. Squeak looks like a geek, so Arthur assumed Squeak was a wimp. Squeak isn’t who he seems to be, and Arthur is still a work in progress.

Arthur finally tells Squeak about Mr. Hampton’s illness and the sculpture. His confession reveals that Arthur is working through his feelings and starting to deal with Mr. Hampton’s impending death. Earlier in the book, Arthur wanted to quit his probation assignment because he thought it was stupid. The opinions of others kept him from doing so. Now, Arthur wants to quit because he doesn’t think he can handle another death so close to his dad’s—a personal reason. Squeak argues Arthur can’t quit, and Arthur ultimately decides to go back to the garage because he cares about the sculpture and Mr. Hampton. Arthur’s choice is not dictated by what others think, a sign Arthur has grown as a person.