The Seventh Most Important Thing

Arthur puzzles about the note for a few days and decides not to bring it to his first meeting with his probation officer, Wanda Billie. Officer Billie is a no-nonsense person, who wants to know how Arthur’s going to change his life because her probation kids don’t fail. Arthur will complete 120 hours of community service with Mr. Hampton, and he leaves the meeting with a warning from Officer Billie: “don’t mess up” (36).

On his first day of community service, Arthur can’t find the address where he’s supposed to meet Mr. Hampton. Arthur goes to a nearby tattoo shop to ask for directions, where he meets Groovy Jim, the shop owner.

Groovy Jim takes Arthur to the correct address. It’s not a house at all, but a garage, “a small brick building standing by itself at the end of the gravel alley” (40). Arthur asks what Mr. Hampton does there, but Groovy Jim doesn’t know.

Arthur knocks at the garage, but no one answers. He’s about to leave when he notices Mr. Hampton’s shopping cart nearby with a note taped to its front. The note directs Arthur to collect the “seven most important things,” Lightbulbs,