Part Two: "Just Before the World Ends" Summary

"When I Think About Myself" tells of someone looking back on a life of sixty years. The person reminisces on the ironies of his/her life. His/her boss is younger than the narrator is, though she must call the boss "Ma'am." The narrator's parents tell stories of questionable truth. The narrator keeps a good spirit, however, and laughs at all the ironies of his/her life. The end of the world, by bombing, is predicted in 'On a Bright Day, Next Week." The narrator predicts he/she will run out of tears, just before the end. Finally, mercy will fall upon those in need, and it will come from the sky, just as the bomb will.

"Letter to an Aspiring Junkie" tells, in street jargon, the daily events...