Chapter 3 Summary and Analysis

After the lease on the sublet expires, Beth and Kirsten both find places of their own in Berkeley. Dave is left to find a place for himself and Toph, but because his only income at the time is Toph's social security payments, Dave has a difficult time. Finally, Dave finds a small house not too far from the apartment Beth has rented and secured it by promising to pay the entire first year up front. Dave and Toph repaint the whole house in the few weeks left before school begins. However, this turns out to be the last thing the two of them could agree on as far as taking care of the house is concerned. Dave cannot cure his own tendency to be a slob and cannot convince Toph to clean up after him.

Dave is terribly unorganized. Toph often...