Chapters 26, 27, 28

Chapter 26 27 and 28
Conrad didn’t get home until one thirty the night before and his grandmother was upset. He went out to wash his car and when he came back in his grandfather was reading the Sunday paper. Conrad was skimming through the paper afterward and came across a headliner titled –Girl Takes Own Life. Conrad quickly flipped through the pages to read more and discovered it was Karen, his friend from the hospital. She had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. She had taken a hose and attached it to the exhaust pipe then fed it in through the back window. Conrad went upstairs and lay down in bed but couldn’t sleep as he kept having bad dreams. He got up and decided to go for a walk, it was in a way, trying to run from his dreams, and he didn’t feel safe in his bed anymore. He started walking outside and the cops drove up to him and asked him where he was going, why, and suggested he go back to his grandma’s house. When Conrad got back the door was unlatched, just as he had left it. Instead of going upstairs to his bed he fell asleep on the chair beside the door. While he’s sleeping we learn about Buck. Buck was his older brother and he died in a sailing accident in a rain storm. The boat had broken and they had promised each other not to get tired or let go, however they could not see each other. Buck let go. Conrad then woke up and waited until seven to call Berger. He drove to Berger’s office after leaving a note for his grandparents. In Chapter 27 Conrad is very upset. Berger is asking him what he could have done differently. Buck was a better swimmer, had better endurance so how could Conrad have helped Buck. Berger calmed him down and took him somewhere to get some breakfast. There he asked if it was accident in Skokie that had started all the fuss. Conrad said yes and was upset again. Berger then continued to tell Conrad that the stats aren’t in favour of survivors for the second time around. Berger convinces Conrad to go to his house, rather than his grandmothers and get some rest. Conrad obeyed and went home. Chapter 28 happens in Dallas. Everyone was excited about Calvin doing well in the golf tournament and they all wanted to go out to celebrate. Beth fired a shot at Calvin about doing something differently and then Calvin was off too. They fought about everything; Conrad, Europe, Portugal, discipline, and depression.


Chapter 26, 27 and 28
Conrad didn’t get home until one thirty after babysitting with Jeannine and this upset his grandmother. This wasn’t a bad thing however. It showed Conrad he had others caring for him. It wasn’t just his dad anymore; he had Jeannine, his grandma and Lazenby too. This section is the turning point in the novel. It is the ‘teary eyed’ section. Conrad went into the living room to find the Sunday paper and read that Karen had committed suicide. She died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Conrad was very upset and went upstairs to lie down. Conrad had very bad dreams and couldn’t sleep. He didn’t feel safe in his room at his grandparents anymore so he went downstairs and went for a walk outside. While outside, the cops drove up and asked him what he was doing and told him he should probably go home. The told him that crazy people could wander the streets at night and they didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. This gave Conrad a little bit of reassurance as to him, this meant he was not crazy and he wasn’t labelled crazy anymore, he was normal. Conrad went back to the house and sat on the lazy boy in the living room. He fell back asleep on the lazy boy. This is where we learned what really happened to Buck. Buck and Conrad were in a boating accident one night. It was stormy and dark and they were both in the water hanging on to a piece of wood that was floating. Buck let go and was never found. When Conrad woke up he was distraught. He waited until seven, then called Berger and asked to see him immediately. Conrad drove to see Berger and told Berger everything that was going on. Berger took him out to get something to eat but Conrad wouldn’t eat. Berger was trying to tell him not to blame himself for Buck’s death. This is important in Conrad’s recovery. Conrad believes that the wrong kid died. Buck was the captain of the swim team, a great guy with lots of friends and a straight a student. Conrad just followed in his footsteps. This is why Conrad attempted suicide. Berger then convinced Conrad that no kid should have died and by doing something like this just makes matters worse. Berger then reminds Conrad about the girl in Skokie (Karen). Conrad was upset again. Berger went on to tell him that many kids will not survive the second attempt at suicide. This was also key knowledge. Berger wouldn’t have told Con this if he didn’t feel that Conrad was recovered. Berger felt safe enough to tell Con that if he attempted again, he probably would die this time. Berger sent Conrad to his own house, not his grandparents, and told him to get some rest and eat something. Calvin and Beth have a major set to this section too. Beth needs attention. Everyone was happy for Calvin doing well in the golf tournament and Beth wasn’t. She couldn’t be happy for him. When she got upset Calvin and she fought. They fought about everything in front of Beth’s brother. Beth’s brother tried to interrupt but it didn’t work. Beth and Calvin fought about Conrad, Europe, Portugal, discipline and depression. Beth and Calvin decided they would go their separate ways when they got back home.