Summary

Matt reveals the dream described in the previous chapter is a dream he had around the time he decided to leave the newspaper roughly two years ago, which happened to be right around the time his mother passed away. Matt continues to recount what led him to leave his job. Matt did not particularly dislike his job, and it pains him to admit in his current state that he always felt he was almost too good for his job. “I offer no excuses for this arrogance, and no rationale, either; I simply felt bigger than what I did for a living, like I was slumming, like I deserved more money, more respect and more esteem than any grubby newspaper could offer” (71). Matt describes a “tumor of discontentment” developing within him, driving him to desire more...