Black Swan Green

Jason and Moran are at the fairgrounds for Goose Day when Jason finds a wallet belonging to Ross Wilcox, fat with money—enough to replace his grandfather’s broken watch. Without telling anyone, Jason pockets the money and spends some on caramel apples for Moran and his sister. Word gets out that Ross Wilcox is looking for his wallet. Ross and his girlfriend, Dawn Madden, fight. Jason learns from Moran’s sister that Ross is carrying around 600 pounds, money his dad gave him when tax collectors showed up at his business. Ross’s dad is known to have a vicious temper; according to rumor, he badly beat Ross’s mother for losing a roll of postage stamps. Jason is delighted by this news; it’s a chance to see Ross suffer badly without Jason himself lifting a finger.

As he and Moran wander the fairgrounds, Jason is shocked to see his father there, eating some chips. His father is moody and dreamy and unlike himself. Emboldened by his father’s strange mood, Jason is moved to confide that one day he would like to be a forester.

The encounter with his own father changes Jason’s mind about the wallet, and he tracks Ross down to return it.