Steve Larson

Steve Larson is a responsible Odyssey boy who runs away rather than attend softball practice. He hates the sport but believes his father values him mainly as a player, so he carries a knapsack into the woods and hides in a decaying barn. Officer David Harley follows broken branches, abandoned equipment, and a cupcake-eating raccoon to find him in the hayloft. The building collapses before Steve will come down, trapping boy and officer together. In the dark, Steve finally explains why he left. Harley shares a similar story from his own youth and helps him see that an honest conversation is still possible. Steve returns home to consequences, reassurance, and the long talk with his father he needed.