Chapter 18 Summary

Palmer's mantra of acting normally and trying not to arouse suspicion is in conflict with his happiness at having a pigeon for a friend. Palmer's mother is more than a little suspicious when Palmer announces that from this point on he will change his own bed linens and clean his own room making it unnecessary for his mother to ever enter his room again. Palmer is amazed at the changes in himself, but he will go to any lengths to protect the secret of Nipper.

Chapter 18 Analysis

The author uses repetition to drive home the obsession Palmer has about not arousing suspicion in his behavior. "Act normal... act normal...," Palmer repeats in his head all day long so that he can keep a low profile on his clandestine activities.

The author also presents the irony of two pigeons in the household: one live...