Summary

The chapter opens with a poetic stanza describing the lumber store Matt is in. He is speaking with Chuck (Lisa’s ex-boyfriend whom she has been recently communicating with online). Matt is feigning interest in building his boys a tree house when in actuality he is trying to find out more about Chuck. He has never previously ventured into this lumber store but he decided to go to “confront his enemy” (47). Matt uses the pseudonym “Jamie Skeet” (a reference to the two young criminals he smoke pot with at 7/11).

Upon engaging Chuck in conversation Matt feels emasculated and inferior to Chuck. Matt begins to list the ways in which Chuck is better than him (taller, younger, in better shape, etc). Matt then admits he arrogantly never perceived Chuck as a threat even though he had come up in...