Chapters 6-10 Summary

This section of Karabekian's memoirs traces the roots of his art and the path that led him to New York City. During the telling, Karabekian jumps around in time, so the story of his past is interjected with observations about Mrs. Berman's constant interruptions.

Early in life, Karabekian received encouragement from teachers to pursue his talent in drawing. At first, his parents didn't want him entering an artist's life as he was surely destined for poverty. Karabekian's mother changed her tune when she discovered that Dan Gregory, an Armenian artist living in the United States, was making a lot of money.

On his mother's urging, Karabekian relates that he sent a letter to Gregory. The reply came not from Gregory himself but from his mistress Marilee Kemp. Kemp took up a correspondence with Karabekian over the span of five years. During...