After morning tea at Blue Blues, Jane drives Ziggy to school while thinking through how to reveal that Max, not Ziggy, has been hurting Amabella. Jane considers going to Mrs. Lipmann immediately, but decides Miss Barnes may be more likely to understand the situation and the awkwardness because Jane is friends with Celeste.

Jane also worries about whether she should warn Celeste before speaking to the school. Jane wants to clear Ziggy’s name, but Jane recognizes that exposing Max could damage her friendship with Celeste and create a painful conflict between the families.

In the car, Jane praises Ziggy for telling her about Max, but Ziggy becomes upset because Ziggy believes he did not technically break his promise to Amabella. Ziggy explains that Max threatened to hurt Amabella again if she told, which is why Amabella pointed to Ziggy at orientation. Jane realizes Ziggy has been carrying the secret out of loyalty, not because Ziggy was guilty or frightened for himself.

As Jane and Ziggy walk toward school, Jane’s relief grows. Jane sees Ziggy as brave and kind, even if Jane also thinks Ziggy used a childish loophole by writing Max’s name instead of speaking it. Jane reflects uneasily on Max, Celeste’s boys, and how Celeste might react when she learns what Max has done.

Near Mrs. Ponder’s house, Mrs. Ponder chats with Jane about the upcoming Audrey and Elvis trivia night, then notices Ziggy scratching his head. Mrs. Ponder checks Ziggy’s hair and loudly announces that Ziggy is crawling with nits just as Thea passes by with Harriett’s lunch box. Thea later frames the incident as further evidence against Jane, emphasizing that Jane nearly brought Ziggy into school with lice.