Part 9 & Part 10 Summary and Analysis
Chapter 43
Craig wakes up thinking about the fact that it is his last day in the hospital. He decides to try taking a cold shower. Afterward, Craig talks to Smitty and asks him if he can play music in the hall that night. He confirms with Smitty that he is able to screen the Blade II movie for the group that evening, despite Smitty’s reluctance.
Chapter 44
Craig is meeting with Dr. Minerva. He tells her that he has been worrying about checking his email after he gets out of the hospital. He fears that if he doesn’t answer all of his school-related emails, he will fail “at life.” Craig becomes anxious and begins to sweat, realizing that he is going to go back to his “Tentacles” again.
Dr. Minerva asks Craig if he has found any Anchors. Craig shows her his artwork; he realizes that it calms him and that it could be “a good Anchor.” Dr. Minerva suggests that Craig could change schools. Craig had not considered this, but he thinks it is a good idea. He decides to call his parents and tell them he wants to transfer schools.
Chapter 45
Craig is playing cards with Noelle, Armelio, and Jimmy when he is told that he has a visitor. It is Aaron, holding an Egyptian music record that Craig asked for. Aaron seems embarrassed, but Craig greets him with a hug. Craig tells Aaron that he is planning to transfer schools. Aaron doesn’t understand, but Craig doesn’t feel the need to explain himself.
Aaron explains that he and Nia broke up for several days but are back together. He says that he was “all freaked out about her being on pills” because his own family is medicated. He explains that he questioned their relationship because she was still depressed while she was with him.
Craig explains that he has met a girl who is “really screwed up” but he doesn’t “look at that as an insult.” Instead, he sees “a chance to connect.” Aaron apologizes to Craig and asks him not to kill himself.
Chapter 46
Nurse Monica announces over the PA system that Craig will be creating personal drawings for patients on the floor. Craig creates art pieces to reflect the different patients he has met. First he draws Armelio, Ebony, and Humble. He gives Noelle his finished drawing of the couple and asks her to meet him in his room halfway through the movie that evening.
Craig draws a piece for Bobby and Johnny. Neither of them want to give him a phone number, claiming that meeting “in the outside world… just ruins it.” Craig draws a brain map for Jimmy. Although he hopes that Jimmy will “finally open up,” Jimmy’s vocabulary is still restricted to his usual catch phrases. Tired, Craig falls asleep in his chair.
Chapter 47
Craig wakes up to find that Sarah and his parents are present. He shows his family his artwork, and they notice that he looks “a lot better” than he did before his stay at the hospital. Craig explains how, during his time there, he realized that his life “went downhill” after his acceptance into Executive Pre-Professional. To avoid a path that would lead back to the psychiatric hospital, Craig wants to transfer to Manhattan Arts Academy.
Craig’s father objects, remarking that “that’s the school for kids who are all screwed up,” at which point Craig reminds him of his hospital bracelets. Craig’s father agrees to the transfer at the end of the school year.
Craig is called to dinner. His father leaves the Blade II
(This entire section contains 1452 words.)
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Blade II DVD with him, promising to come back at seven to watch it. His family leaves, planning to pick him up early the next morning.
Chapter 48
Craig explains Blade II to Humble as they set up the TV. Craig’s father joins the group in the activity center, and the patients of Six North give commentary as they watch the movie. Noelle comes into the room, and Craig’s father notices their connection.
During the movie, Craig’s father falls asleep. Craig takes the opportunity to remind Smitty that it’s after designated visiting hours. Craig and his father hug, each of them saying “I love you.” Craig convinces Muqtada to get out of bed and leave their room, explaining that he has brought Egyptian music to play in the hall. Muqtada enjoys the music and even agrees to play cards with Armelio.
Craig returns to his room to find that Noelle is already waiting for him.
Chapter 49
Craig and Noelle immediately begin kissing each other. Craig is surprised by his lack of hesitation. As they kiss and explore each other’s bodies, Craig compares it to his experience with Nia. He finds Noelle “much more sexy than Nia.” When the voice of his “lower half” begins to direct him, “it feels truer now” than it did with Nia.
The moment is shattered when Noelle misunderstands a comment Craig makes. Craig explains himself. Noelle is no longer angry but suggests that they should leave, as the movie is almost over. Craig reflects on all the couples in the city “kissing or touching each other,” believing that he is “the happiest of all of them.”
Chapter 50
Craig’s parents have come to bring him home. Craig reflects that his hospital stay “doesn’t seem too long or too short”; it has felt precisely like five days.
Other patients say good-bye to Craig. Craig introduces Noelle to his parents. Muqtada leaves his room to say good-bye, telling Craig’s parents that Craig has helped him.
Craig asks his parents if he can walk home alone. He feels “how easily [he] could fall back into” former habits and depression. While “all of that is still there,” it is only “a possibility” now.
As Craig leaves the hospital, he takes in the sights and smells of the spring day. He reflects that he hasn’t “cured anything” but that there is a change taking place. He feels aware of different organs and parts of his body. He feels aware of his brain, realizing that his brain is the gateway to his experience of life.
Craig feels that the Shift has occurred; his brain was “knocked off kilter,” but “now it’s back.” His brain has an overwhelming urge to do rather than to simply think. Craig thinks of everything he wants to do, all the verbs he wants to take and enjoy.
As the book comes to a close, Craig muses on those possible verbs, remarking,
They’re yours, Craig. You deserve them because you chose them. You could have left them all behind but you chose to stay here. So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live.
Analysis
In the final section of the book, many changes in Craig are evident to the reader. At the beginning of the book, Craig describes how difficult it is for him to speak. By contrast, in this closing section, Craig tells Dr. Minerva that “words can just pour out of [him], the way they used to.” Craig initially has difficulty sleeping, whereas in this section, he easily falls asleep in a chair. Moreover, during a visit with his family, Craig’s mother and sister notice that he looks healthier.
In the beginning of the book, Craig is easily jealous of others and self-absorbed. In this section, Craig demonstrates compassion for others. For example, even though Craig finds Jimmy humorous, he wants to help Jimmy when he declares his mother “hit [him] in the head with a hammer.” Craig also shows forgiveness to Aaron. When Aaron visits, and Craig sees that he is sheepish, Craig notes that “he’s a dick, but I’m not perfect either so I come up and hug him.”
Craig’s confidence in himself has also changed. When Aaron doesn’t understand why Craig would transfer schools, Craig is not bothered. He feels that he “doesn’t need to explain this to Aaron” and even declares that he “[doesn’t] owe people anything.” When Craig’s father objects that the art school is for “screwed up kids,” Craig holds up his hospital bracelets:
I raise my wrist, show him the bracelets. I have pride in them now. They’re true, and people can’t screw with them. And when you say the truth you get stronger.
Instead of feeling ashamed of his struggles, Craig feels proud of them. By the end of the book, Craig has reignited his desire to live. Whereas he initially has a “flat affect,” he is now fully aware of his senses and eager for the rich spectrum of life experiences.
