Summary

As Cory recovers from his experiment with heroin, he decides that hard drugs aren’t for him. While the high evokes a pleasant impression that “the world had been cleansed, rinsed off, made softer and ineffably better” (201), Cory is less than inclined to try them again, given the harshness of the subsequent recovery.

Still recovering, Cory receives a phone call from Greer. He is irritated by her “outstandingly articulate” (203) mood and her relaying anecdotes from her life that he doesn’t hold a particular interest in. Greer notices his lack of enthusiasm, but continues regardless, offering him a consulting job. Cory declines, emphasizing his need to stay in Macopee. Greer feels that he is giving up on his future and possibly also the future that they had planned together.

Cory can not escape thoughts of the void that Alby’s death has left...