Chapter 9 Summary

Reuven's eye has healed nicely and he can read once again. He takes his final exams and is ready for summer vacation. He hasn't seen Danny in a week. They discuss their summer plans. Danny is going to study the Talmud and read Freud.

Reuven still thinks about the young blind boy named Billy that he had met in the hospital. He calls Billy's home to see how Billy's eye operation went. Unfortunately, Billy's operation was unsuccessful. Reuven wants to see Billy, but Billy's family was moving to Albany.

Reuven is upset by the news and goes out to his front porch to think. He observes a housefly that is caught in a spider web. Reuven blows on the spider web and saves the housefly. Both the housefly and spider then disappear.

Chapter 9 Analysis

Reuven's reaction to Billy's surgery news demonstrates Reuven's compassion...