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1. Is Buddy predictable? How so?

Buddy's day-to-day life is predictable: he runs on a very precise schedule. However, his disappearance is unpredictable. Nora's delay in reporting him missing implies that erratic behavior might not be uncommon for Buddy.

2. What does Buddy's world look like?

Buddy's world is dilapidated. The neighborhood is full of sun-bleached signs which "no one writes a song about." However, Buddy's world in his head is a bit darker and scarier. He suffers from nightmares and alcoholism.

3. Why do smart customers come to Buddy early?

Buddy is notorious for drinking. At the barber shop, liquor is passed around since the morning so he's usually drunk by noon. A smart customer comes in the morning when he is still sober.

4. What is Buddy's relationship with Nora like?

Nora and Buddy are married and have children. They are physically and emotionally intimate, but Buddy is paranoid. Despite their closeness, he disappears and falls in love with another woman. Nora is eager to find him but waits several months before reporting him missing to the police.

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