One of the big contrasts between Cocoa and George is their different views of myths and the spiritual life. George says,"I may have knocked my head against the walls, figuring out how to buy food, supplies, and books, but I never knocked on wood. No rabbit's foot, no crucifixes—not even a lottery ticket." Cocoa, on the other hand, has a more even-handed view. Having been raised in a superstitious place, Cocoa, although she has turned more towards George's view, understands and during her illness embraces the spiritual, non-western view of medicine and life. George and Cocoa represent two different ways of looking at life. George, wants to have nothing to do with the old-fashioned non-western way, whereas Cocoa understands and believes in both.