Summary

Part 2, Chapter 1 – The autumn comes on, and it seems as if Papa is crabby all the time. Billy asks his mother why this is the case. Mama explains that he is having difficulty with his work. Sal asks what a breakthrough is, and Mama explains that a breakthrough is when things click, when work goes well. Mama asks Billy to go and get Papa, because it is time to eat breakfast. Papa has been working on a cello with four mannequin arms attached to it. Papa asks Billy what he thinks, and Billy describes it as if the cello is playing itself, or is a spider. Billy suggests adding a monster mask, but Papa says “Whatever” sharply, and then heads in to eat. After breakfast, Billy reminds Papa that Ned is coming over, and they are going to work on habitat dioramas with Papa...