Chapters 23-28 Summary

Karabekian describes how he finally procures a job during the Depression. An Armenian living in Paris brought him to a New York ad agency and said he would give them his tourism business account on condition that the hire Karabekian as an artist.

Equipped with a job and modestly comfortable, Karabekian applied to take a painting class. The professor looked through his portfolio and declined to have him in class, for though the illustrations were perfect, there was no passion. He said he did not want to teach someone to paint if they had nothing to say.

Karabekian then took a creative writing course, but that too resulted in a similar standoff with the teacher.

Jumping to the present, Karabekian relates that Paul Slazinger is back at the house. Slazinger had lost his mind, and not for the first time. He...