10-2

MUSIC PLAYING]

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NARRATOR: Ray gains self-confidence

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from exercising, socializing with the other team

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workers at his part-time fast-food job,

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and honing his woodworking skills

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he graduates high school.

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Ray applies to college with the support of his teacher-mentor

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and gets a full scholarship.

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He would be the first in his family to attend college.

00:28

However, his father George becomes

00:30

sick with lung cancer the summer before his freshman year

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of college.

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Ray doesn't know where to turn.

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He is estranged from his father's side

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of the family due to a fight George had with his brother

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years ago.

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His mother's side of the family do not live in the area,

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and he's never had a close relationship with them.

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He feels a sense of obligation to George

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and guilt for what he'd said about wishing him dead,

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ray never leaves for college, letting the scholarship lapse.

00:57

He stays and cares for his father

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until George dies four months later.

01:03

Now 18, Ray lives alone with a rescue pit bull named Daisy.

01:08

He has maintained his fast-food job, but after George's death,

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he begins to show up at work late, unshowered, and

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occasionally drunk.

01:16

Ray's boss tells him that he understands he's grieving,

01:19

but he can't show up in that state.

01:21

The boss puts him on probation.

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If he is late, skips work, or shows up inebriated again,

01:27

he will be fired.

01:29

If Ray loses his job, his housing

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will be in jeopardy as well.

01:33

Ray's work friends encourage him to see a social worker.

01:37