Summary

Chapter 18

Maurice explains, in this chapter, that now he and Laura are talking again, that there have only been a handful of people who have ever cared about him. He has lost his grandmother and mother. So, he has made sure to call Laura so he won't lose her, too. There has been a lot of loss along the way. This chapter gives brief updates on the people in Maurice's life. Few of them have happy endings.

Laura's brother Frank gets a longer segue. He lost his way somewhere in high school, she says. There are times when he was working steadily and had a good marriage, but good things didn't last for him. He dies in his 40s of a mysterious illness.

Maurice, meanwhile, has been taking classes and receives his GED. He enrolls in college so that he can become a...