Demon Copperhead

Despite how many friends he has at school and how well his life is going now, Demon can’t help but look “behind whoever is being nice to him that day to see what’s coming. Still your jack-shit homeless orphan, just faking it in nice clothes” (255). Demon has an odd encounter with U-Haul, who takes him into Coach Winfield’s home office and warns him not to think of himself as family. U-Haul resents that he’s been working for Winfield for 11 years like a babysitter.

Mr. Armstrong arranges for his wife, a high school art teacher named Mrs. Annie, to work on Demon’s drawings with him.

The Winfield house prepares for Betsy’s visit. If Demon can prove he’s been doing well, Betsy will sign over guardianship to Coach Winfield. Demon attends football camp and learns how to be a tight end under the tutelage of the JV coach, Mr. Briggs.

Demon notices that Coach Winfield drinks a lot during the off-season. Angus explains that it’s due to the pain of losing his wife.

At school, Mr. Armstrong challenges Demon and his peers to think critically about their language and history.