1. Greg's mounting frustration with his family:
* School Stress: Greg feels overwhelmed by schoolwork and social pressure, especially with the impending "Cheese Touch" incident.
* Family Annoyances: Greg struggles with his overbearing parents, his younger brother Rodrick's pranks, and his older brother Manny's constant need for attention.
* The "Cheese Touch": The fear of getting the "Cheese Touch," a schoolyard curse, adds to Greg's anxieties and leads him to increasingly desperate measures.
2. Greg's attempts to escape his problems:
* The "Cheeseburger" Plan: Greg tries to use the "Cheese Touch" as an excuse to get out of school, hoping to get a cheeseburger from home and avoid the consequences of being cursed.
* The "No Cheese Touch" Plan: Greg attempts to stay away from the "Cheese Touch" by going to school early and staying late, only to find himself in even more trouble with his parents.
* The "Fake Illness" Plan: Greg tries to feign illness to get out of school, but his mother sees through his act.
3. Greg's breaking point:
* The Military School Threat: Greg's parents decide to send him to a military school after his repeated misbehavior.
* The "Last Straw": The threat of military school, along with his mounting frustration, pushes Greg to his limit. He decides to run away from home.
4. The Climax:
* Greg's Escape: Greg runs away to the local mall, determined to start a new life on his own.
* The Confrontation: Greg's parents find him at the mall and confront him about his behavior.
The rising action of "The Last Straw" shows how Greg's seemingly small problems snowball into a major crisis, culminating in his dramatic decision to run away from home. This sets the stage for the climax of the story, where Greg will face the consequences of his actions and try to find a way to resolve his problems.