Summary

Chapter 9 shifts focus back to Barry. He is on a bus that is now driving through Alabama. Barry is feeling forlorn and alienated. When the bus stops at Birmingham, an attractive African-American woman in her twenties boards the bus and sits next to Barry. Barry makes conversation with her. Her name is Brooklyn, she works as an accountant for a hotel, and she’s on her way to visit family in Jackson. Barry tries to impress her with stories of his life, and he fantasizes about mentoring her and traveling the world with her. They begin to flirt, and at night, they share a hotel room. They have sex and fall asleep. In the morning, Brooklyn is gone. Barry does not see his watch collection, and he fears that Brooklyn has stolen it. However, he soon finds them in the hotel room safe, where...