Bud, Not Buddy Chapter 16 Summary

  • When Bud wakes up, he sees his clothes are off of him and folded up beside the bed like his mother used to do. He thinks about how his mother used to leave a note for him, too.
  • Embarrassed that Miss Thomas saw his skinny legs last night, Bud gets dressed and quietly sneaks out and overhears the band talking.
  • Miss Thomas points out to Calloway that orphanages are bad for kids, and that they all decided last night. What does she mean?
  • At this point, Bud thinks he might have to run away in case they intend to take him back to the Home.
  • Calloway says he is going to find out about Bud in Flint. He's kind of a meanie.
  • Steady Eddie says that he found something for Bud in the basement, which Bud is really excited about, so he runs back to his room and loudly stomps back to the kitchen where Steady Eddie, Miss Thomas, and Calloway are talking.
  • After Bud appears, Calloway takes off to look at his car. Miss Thomas tells Bud he slept in until noon.
  • Then Miss Thomas says the band had a long talk about what to do with Bud, and they decided he could stay with them for a while. Hurray! But Bud is also going to have to help out by doing a lot of chores.
  • Surprisingly, Miss Thomas grabs Bud's arms and looks right into his eyes (just like Bud's mom used to do) and tells him things may get hard but not to forget that he is a gift for the band.
  • In order to help him fit in (and look good), Eddie gives Bud his old empty saxophone case.
  • The rest of band arrives. Bud learns that band members have to practice for two hours every day, so Eddie gives him a recorder so he can learn music.
  • Sensing what is coming next, Miss Thomas heads outside because she doesn't care about the boys' naming process.
  • Steady gets quite serious and tells Bud to stand up and hand him his recorder. The band begins the naming process.
  • The Thug mentions calling Bud Waterworks Willie because he cried so much after dinner, but this gets shot down.
  • Next, Steady says they should call Bud Sleepy since he slept in again until after noon, but that isn't all yet. Dirty Deed notes that Bud is skinny and that his name should reflect that.
  • Doo Doo Bug suggests the Bone, which gets spruced up to be La Bone, as if it were French. So Bud becomes Sleepy LaBone. Pretty good, right? Better than Doo Doo Bug, anyway, if you ask us.