Tunes for Bears to Dance To

Henry is back at work the next day when Mr. Hairston approaches him to say that the owner of the diner where Henry’s mother works is a friend to whom Mr. Hairston has loaned money. The man owes Mr. Hairston a favor, and it is in the grocer’s power to get a raise for her or get her fired. Mr. Hairston suggests that Henry destroy the village that evening and tells him to leave and only come back if he has done so. Henry is surprised to see Mr. Hairston’s bland, “everyday” face after he issues this order.

Telling himself he will go to the craft center but not smash the village, Henry races through the streets. However, he can’t help thinking of the rewards if he does destroy the village. George greets him and says Mr. Levine is resting up for his big day. Henry looks around and sees a wooden mallet. He slips inside the storeroom with the mallet and pictures his mother as a hostess instead of a waitress, as well as the monument placed on Eddie’s grave. He falls asleep and wakes up when he hears a rat in the storeroom.