Bud, Not Buddy Perseverance Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

He quit smiling and looked at me a lot harder, like he was really noticing me. I knew if I was a regular kid, I'd be crying buckets of tears now…(12.171-172)

Okay, so are Bud's hopes crushed and ground into the dirt? Nope, he still pushes forward with his plan, thinking that there are just too many coincidences and that this must be his father, anyway. Even though he feels like he should cry, he doesn't. He just pushes through his humiliation and sticks to his plan. Is that still a smart idea at this point?