CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES

CHAPTER 26

Summary

Adam remembers one day when he came home from school early and found his mother sitting downstairs. This was unusual because she had been avoiding him since he learned the truth about their lives.

She tells him that she has become paranoid, but the Never Knows get to her. She watches out the window and wonders who is in the cars passing by. She does not know if it is safe to place all of their trust in Mr. Grey, who says he is identified as Number 2222 in Washington. She tells Adam how Grey rules their lives. There have been times they have wanted to go on vacation, but he would not allow it because he said it would be unsafe.

Adam realized that his mother is far more rebellion than his father. His father played the role of insurance agent very well. Adam was happy to see she was not the compliant woman he thought she was. One day she took him to the basement and showed him some things she had kept from their old life. As she was showing him his fatherÂ’s military jacket and old hat, the door bell rang.

It was Amy at the door; he had been avoiding her since he found out about his life. One day she asked him if something was bugging him. He told her it was his mother, she was not feeling well. He really wanted to tell Amy the truth.

Adam grows agitated and tells Brint he needs to know what happens next. He needs to know where his parents are. Brint calls for medication.

Notes

In this chapter Grey, representative of the government, is symbolic of God. Adam, (first man) and his family must obey everything Grey commands because they do not know what the consequences could be. Cormier juxtaposes LouiseÂ’s devout Catholicism with her distaste for following the rules of Grey. In a way, they are the same thing. She blindly follows the rules of the Catholic Church; yet, she is angry about letting her life be controlled by Grey.

CHAPTER 27

Summary

Adam approaches the Varney house and he sees his bike on the porch. He wants to grab it, but there are too many people coming and going. AdamÂ’s headache is finally gone; it had been with his for a while. He bought aspirin at the drugstore. He took three then threw the tin away because he did not want to be caught with pills on him.

He watches Junior Varney come outside and inspect the bike. JuniorÂ’s mother come out after him and places her hand on his shoulder. Junior pulls away and Adam misses his mother. As Junior begins to wheel the bike to the back of his house, Adam steps forward and calls his name. Varney tells Adam he bought it from someone earlier that day. Dropping his package, Adam fights for the bike. Fighting, Adam regains control of the bike and heads away from the scene--after he picks up the package.

Notes

This is another example of Adam fighting when it is necessary for him to regain what is necessary. His bike has come to represent his means of accomplishing his mission--it is his freedom. It is important to note that he drops his fatherÂ’s package, therefore leaving it vulnerable, in order to regain the bike. He will accomplish his mission at all costs.

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