He repeatedly skips ball practice and visits his friend Houston Jones (Bill Cobbs), a town outcast and former one-time champion steeplechase jockey.

His mother thinks it is too dangerous, and his father is concerned about Patrick taking riding lessons from a drunk man.

Patrick meets again with Chuck and Jill and asks them to join him at Houston's barbecue; he also invites his parents.

Patrick starts to learn to ride Rusty as Jill tends to Houston's garden.

Jill calls 9-1-1, but Houston refuses to go to the hospital and dies the next day, leaving Patrick devastated.