Chapters 30-39 Summary

As Chapter 30 opens, Richard is looking at the news and hearing about all the horrible things that are happening in the world. Dickie is fearful of death and the end of the world, and Richard gives him a pep talk about handling the storms in life by facing them head on. Richard puts a strong emphasis on building a unique, personal world where one can find peace in the midst of chaos.

In Chapter 31, Dickie appears as Richard is shopping. They discuss philosophies for life. Dickie asks about the philosophy of flight and suggests that there is probably a philosophy of bowling and gardening, also. He asks how things happen and why, and wants Richard to talk to him as a grown-up. Richard tries to explain space-time to Dickie as if he were a quantum mechanic. He says that humans are...