Part2McH

Chapter six is mostly about the pit stops Jon and Becky make on their way to Richmond, Virginia. The first place they go to is Austin, Texas. While Jon was getting coffee in the morning he noticed a man in fish net stockings and a pink thong. This man’s name is Leslie. Leslie is foreshadowing another man Jon meets later on. The Keep Austin Weird group wrote in Leslie’s name to be elected president. Jon later goes into a story about his old pet bird named Charley. Sometimes Charley was the only one to say “Hello” to Jon. He says the bird saved his life, just by saying hi everyday. In another pit stop before Richmond, Jon and Becky visit Graceland. After that they go to a man’s museum. It is the Museum of Wonder owned by Butch. The museum is actually more like a shack. Their last stop is Gibsonton, before they actually make it to Richmond. There Becky boards a train back to New York. In Richmond, Jon meets Deborah at a Starbucks. Deborah is the adoptive mother of Ashley, an eight-year-old girl who is deaf and blind. Although, Ashley is completely blind. She is able to see one to two inches in front of her good eye. This way people are able to sign to her and she will understand what they are saying. Ashley also knows how to curse and is very fond of curse words. This is how Jon relates to Ashley, because they both love to curse. In chapter eight we learn a little more about Jon then we originally did. We learn that Jon got into college on a soccer scholarship. He went to Loyola Marymount University. However, he didn’t get to play that much, because he got injuries every year. In present time Jon goes to find the Carrie Buck memorial. Carrie Buck was a woman who was sterilized, because the town didn’t want her to pass down her bad genes. Carrie Buck was an epileptic, but was categorized as feeble-minded. It turns out the one kid she did have, before sterilization, had an above average IQ. When Jon couldn’t find the Carrie Buck he yelled at a secretary for not having the information. In this chapter Jon’s sister Kelly joins the trip. The chapter was mostly dedicated to describing Kelly and what she did to help him. We learn that Kelly was considered “gifted” or smart. She both helped and supported her brother through Ivy League college. When Jon was arrested for a DUI, Kelly was the first and only person he called. Kelly was the one who gave him the idea to transfer out of Loyola Mount. So he applied to a bunch, and ultimately decided to go to Brown. There he met Dave who also has a learning disability. The chapter ends with Jon in Kennebunkport, Maine learning about a man named Cookie. Cookie is a man who lives in Cape Porpoise, Maine. Cookie doesn’t have a stable job, but a bunch of odd jobs. Although, he does have his art showing in a gallery by the end of the chapter. Cookie wears a blonde wig and dresses. He wishes to become a woman. Cookie tells a couple of stories to Jon. Two have to do with his school time. One teacher would call him stupid, so she punched her in the mouth. He did end up going to college, but it is unclear if he ever got a degree. He was also married to a woman named Lisa. They lived together in Australia for two years. It is also unclear what happened to Lisa. Jon says goodbye to Cookie with a turn around dance. A dance Becky created herself and Jon is borrowing. In the beginning of the chapter Jon takes Kelly and Chris to his future in-laws, the Goldman’s. That way he can visit Becky. Jon says that he often feels like a freak show at the Goldman’s, even though they have only been kind to him. When they leave the Goldman’s they head towards Dorny Park. There they meet up with Cully, Chad, and Sy. Cully is a friends of Jon and a social worker. Cully is Chad’s social worker and Sy is Chad’s dad. Chad has cerebral palsy and a brain tumor. They spend the day on all types of roller coasters. At the end of this trip Jon learns to enjoy life even with “looping or falling or twisting”.
 * Chapter Six**
 * Chapter Seven**
 * Chapter Eight**
 * Chapter Nine**
 * Chapter Ten**
 * Chapter 11**