Which events are important in Gary Schmidt's Okay for Now?

The first important event is the moment Doug meets and starts to become friends with Lil in the opening chapter. They don't hit it off the first time they meet because she thinks he looks like a "skinny thug" and locks up her bike, and he acts like a jerk. The next time she sees him, however, she brings him a coke from her father's deli and challenges him to drink it down in an uninterrupted series of gulps. She then offers him a delivery job at her father's deli.

A second major event is the moment Mr. Powell sees Doug pretending to recreate John James Audubon's drawing of the Arctic tern in chapter 2. Mr. Powell recognizes Doug's genuine admiration and interest and offers to teach him how to draw. At first, Doug rejects the offer; however, by chapter 3, Mr. Powell has persuaded him. These drawing lessons become a critical way for Doug to begin overcoming his tribulations. As he notes in the final chapter of the book, Mr. Powell "taught [him] that sometimes, art can make you forget everything else all around you" (Chapter 10). His drawing lessons also help Doug gain confidence, enabling him to tackle problems around him, such as finding ways to return the sold Audubon plates back the book in the library.

Other major events in the story concern Doug's brave pursuits in restoring the sold portraits of the birds to the library. Everywhere he goes, he notes who is in possession of a plate. He then either boldly expresses his opinion that the plate really belongs in the library or negotiates with the person to have the plate returned to the library. For example, Doug witnesses one of Mr. Ballard's employees frame the plate titled Yellow Shank. When Mr. Ballard asks Doug where he thinks the picture should go, Doug very boldly replies, "I think it belongs back in the book" (Chapter 5). Mr. Ballard is surprised but very quickly comes to agree with Doug and orders it to be returned to the library. Doug's boldness with Mr. Ballard and success in achieving his goal shows us how much Doug is beginning to mature. He achieves many other great accomplishments throughout the book due to his boldness.