Hector Zeroni

Zero knows about the shoes that Stanley stole. The other boys are surprised that Stanley made Zero talk. Zero reveals that he cannot read (he is also homeless with a missing mother) so he and Stanley come to an agreement: Zero will dig part of Stanley's hole each day and Stanley will teach Zero how to read. Zero runs off after hitting Mr.Pendanski A few days later, Stanley escapes in search of his friend. He finds him hiding under a boat, eating a stew of fermented spiced peaches, which he calls Sploosh (the boat belonged to Sam the onion man, and the Sploosh was "Kissin' Kate" Barlow's special spiced peaches that she gave to Sam in exchange for his fixing of her schoolhouse). Hector does not want to return to the camp. Stanley notices...