- With the dream of purchasing the barn seeming to be in reach, Tom starts to imagine how it would look on his family's property, which makes him realize how rundown his family's home is.
- Tom decides it would be a good idea to fix up the house before putting the barn up.
- Tom's no-good father, Nob, never made any effort to make repairs on the house, so there are no tools lying around for Tom to use. That means he has to buy them.
- He gets advice from Birdy, who says Tom will need a ladder for the house repairs, and he'll need at least two to put up the barn. Ladders are expensive, so Birdy finds good quality secondhand ones for Tom. Even those cost $14, and it is really difficult for Tom to take the money out of his savings for the barn.
- By the time Tom purchases all the supplies he needs, he has used all his savings, plus two weeks' wages.
- Once Tom gets started with the repairs and painting, though, he feels really proud about the improvements, and he stops worrying about the money for the barn.
- Conveniently, he gets a raise at the mill. That means he'll be able to rebuild his savings and afford the barn. Woohoo.