Chapter 15 Summary

In Chapter 15, Slake is in the hospital. He likes the real bed, hot meals and being served. He feels a huge loss, like his life has been taken away. The bird Slake swallows in his dreams is anxious. A social worker comes and says they will move him to a juvenile facility until they locate his family. They get him clean clothes, an eye examination and new glasses. Slake wants to see the blue sky again. The bird quiets in him. He dreams of the bird's death. He vomits the bird out and it goes free. His chest and stomach are free of the flutter.

Slake walks out of the hospital, not waiting for the social worker. He sees daylight. He decides he needs to find his own life. He is about to go underground, but he looks at the sky. He realizes...