Chapter 13 Summary

Chapter 13 opens with the popcorn buying incident—Howie had not intended to purchase popcorn in the first place. He begins his story with his rushing out of the revolving door. It is noon, and fifteen plaza trees stand in front of him. Many are sitting on benches there, eating their packed lunches. Howie notes a construction crew on a building nearby and hankers for a light snack, and so he gives a dollar to the popcorn vendor. He receives no change, and appreciates this.

Howie next turns to walk towards the CVS, eating popcorn and watching new cars; he notes the feeling of the popcorn in his mouth. In a two page footnote, Howie discusses some early memories illustrating that one can eat popcorn that has sat under various different environmental conditions.

The walk to CVS lasts ten minutes; Howie throws away...