Stand Tall

Tree freezes but wishes he stood up for Sophie. He compares the girls’ mean words to grenades in war. At physical therapy, a fellow veteran, the Trash King, suggests that Grandpa not be Santa Claus at the children’s hospital, for it could be painful to have kids sit on his lap. Grandpa refuses to relinquish the role and even asks Mona for a tougher workout. When the Trash King persists in his argument, Grandpa and Mona insist that a person with a disability is capable of anything. Another veteran, Luger, who is learning to use his new mechanical hand, raises a cup in agreement.

At basketball practice, Coach Glummer mandates the team’s attendance at ballroom dancing lessons to help their game. Despite protests from the boys, Coach Glummer does not budge. Later, Tree talks with his dad again about the divorce. Later, when Tree hears his dad playing handball in the basement, he goes down to watch and realizes that his dad is happiest when in motion. He thinks of how the man coached Curtis and Larry and again wishes he were more athletic. As his brothers race to the basement to join in, Tree opts to watch even though he wishes he were good enough to jump in.

On the first night of ballroom dancing, Tree stands outside with friends when Sophie arrives. Once inside, the instructor begins with strict rules and then basic steps. Later, when it is time to partner up, Tree asks Sophie to dance. Their height difference makes it challenging, but they enjoy themselves. At home, Tree asks Curtis why their parents are getting a divorce. Later, while folding laundry together, Grandpa tells Tree the secret to fighting a war is to hold onto the good things. Tree cannot fathom how to do this when a memory of his mom moving out surfaces: After she left, Tree found some of her clothes in the dryer, which made him cry. Back in the present, Grandpa notes that war can leave a person with holes inside, but concentrating on what they have will help. Then, laughing, he realizes that he does not need matching socks anymore.

One day, Tree accompanies Sophie to Baltimore to give her dad a Christmas gift. Sophie’s father does not smile when he sees her. Instead, he pummels Tree with questions about his age. Because this has happened before, Tree has his birth certificate to prove his age. Then, Sophie gives her father his present: a recording of her playing Christmas music on the flute. He says he forgot hers at home, the same thing he says every year. Waiting for the bus home, they talk about their parents. Despite her anger, Sophie acknowledges that she at least knows her father, which is better than what other kids have. Tree admits to himself that he never considered that. When he gets on the bus, Tree hits his head, and Sophie says he needs a sunroof. When Tree does not laugh, she tells him that it is important to laugh so he does not cry.

Tree helps Grandpa dress in his Santa costume. The Trash King is an elf. When they arrive at the hospital, Tree pushes Grandpa in a wheelchair. Kids follow them everywhere, and other veterans dressed as reindeer roam the halls. In one room, a girl brightens at the sight of Santa and asks about his wheelchair; Grandpa responds that life is not perfect. When she requests that he tell The Night Before Christmas, he falters without the book, but everyone, including the girl, helps him. Later, a boy with a leg brace opts to stand so he does not hurt Santa. A girl crawls into Tree’s lap and asks for a new lung for Christmas. When Tree does not know how to respond, she acknowledges that he cannot give her that and gives him a genuine hug.

At home, Tree’s brother Larry is angry all the time, yelling at Bradley and Tree, and sometimes comes home drunk. When Grandpa confronts Larry, telling him that alcohol will not solve his problems, the boy storms to his room. Bradley comforts Larry while he cries. On Christmas Eve, the boys and Grandpa sadly stare at the bare living room. Even though the stores are closed, Grandpa insists they will get a tree, so they race to their dad’s sporting goods store and “borrow” the decorated tree, a wreath, and holly, much to their dad’s chagrin. At home, the tree fills the room while Dad and Grandpa cook dinner. Although no one has presents and Bradley pees on the tree, they are content.

The boys spend Christmas day at their mother’s house, which is perfectly decorated. She wishes everyone was happy, so she urges them to talk about their feelings. When she insists that they can tell her anything, Larry confesses that he is failing two classes. Mom loses her cool and shouts so aggressively that Larry stomps away. Curtis decides not to tell her that he overdrew his bank account, while Tree opts not to reveal that he dismantled her blender recently and a few parts are missing. Just then, she tries to use the appliance, but it doesn’t work. Irate, she demands that Tree promise to stop taking things apart. Then, she asks her sister to start a fire in the fireplace, but the flue is closed so black smoke fills the living room. While Tree nudges the flue open, everyone races to open windows and disconnect the smoke detector. When her dog gets so worked up that he throws up, Mom collapses. Tree encourages her to laugh because it will keep her from crying.