How To Eat Fried Worms

Billy, serene and relaxed, wolfs down the sixth worm. Alan watches, perturbed, while Joe pretends not to care but wonders what went wrong. Tom, hiding nearby in the bushes, stares at the barn.

Casually reading a comic book, Billy chews absently on the seventh worm while Joe and Alan watch, alarmed at Billy’s calm demeanor. Tom waves through the window; Billy ignores him, finishes up, and walks out, saying, “See you tomorrow, fellows” (61).

Joe doesn’t show up for the eighth worm; Billy says it’s because he knows he and Alan have lost. Alan tries to argue that using lots of mustard is cheating, but Billy reminds him that condiments are a legal part of the game. Alan again tries to scare Billy with the idea that the worms will turn in his stomach and make him sick, but Billy no longer buys that story. He finishes the eighth worm and strolls out of the barn. Tom appears and says hi, but Billy snubs him and walks away.