Summary

In “Anthony,” presidential candidate Anthony Rollins was one of the few Americans who did not let the strings distract from the upcoming election. Anthony had just recovered from a recent scandal in the media. The strings had helped the populace forget accusations against him concerning his past.

Anthony and his wife Katherine both had long strings. They praised God, believing they had been “rewarded for their faith” (73).

In “Ben,” the support group helped Ben “compartmentalize his life” (76). Although he found it easier to return to work, he could not reconcile how “his life had crumbled” in the face of his string (76).

Every week, he and A continued writing letters. Ben found it easy “to share his thoughts on paper” (78). One week, his group discussed sharing the truth about their strings with their families. However, when Ben visited his parents, he could not tell...