CHAPTER SUMMARY AND NOTES

CHAPTER 34

Summary

The boys hide under and iron grill imbedded in the sidewalk that runs by the cigar store. Above, the parade clashes with the church bells. They see people passing above, and they realize the parade is passing directly in front of them. Will sees his dad pass above on the grate. A small boy accidentally drops his gum down past the grate, and it lands next to JimÂ’s show. The boy leans down to get it, and suddenly Will realizes the parade has stopped and the freaks are now circulating the streets looking for them. The small boy leans on the grill, taps his mother, and points at Jim and Will in the shadows of the pit.

Notes

The parade clashes with the Sunday morning church bells, furthering the clash between religion and evil. When Charles passes above the boys, Will wants to yell out to him, but again feels unable to ask him for help. The danger felt in this chapter, with the innocence of the young boy noticing the boys beneath the sidewalk, heightens the readerÂ’s sense of fear for the boys.

CHAPTER 35

Summary

Charles drinks several cups of coffee at Ned’s Night Spot when Mr. Dark enters the café. The scene suddenly shifts to the small boy pointing to Will and Jim hidden under the grate. The Dwarf appears, searching with his eyes, and he is compared to a small camera. For a moment, Will mourns the loss of the lightning rod salesman Mr. Fury. Children run laughing by, and distract the Dwarf before he can search any closer for the boys.

The scene once again shifts to Charles in the coffee shop. Mr. Dark mentions to the proprietor that heÂ’s searching for two boys, and Charles absent-mindedly leaves, Dark watching him all the way. Above, Charles purchases cigar, while Will and Jim debate about calling to him. As he starts to light the cigar, though, he notices Jim and Will beneath him and calls to them. Dark then heads toward him and they beg him to look away. He does, just in time, and Dark says the carnival is looking for two boys who have won the valuable prize of a completely free day at the carnival. Charles asks who the lucky boys are, and Dark opens his palms to reveal their tattooed faces on his palm. He asks their names, and after some hesitation, Charles says they look like two boys who just moved to Milwaukee, giving two fake names. Dark says Charles is lying, as he already knows the boysÂ’ names are Jim and Will. Charles says there are hundreds of Jims and Wills in the town, so without last names, it will be difficult to find them. Dark begins to get frustrated, and clenches his fists until blood drips from them. Dark then begins to leave, and the Dust Witch, not dead but bruised, comes down the street offering to tell fortunes. She seems to sense the boys, and Charles, desperate to throw her off, lights his cigar and blows the smoke in her face. She staggers back, and Dark asks CharlesÂ’ name. Charles, without hesitation, tells him, and says Dark should come visit him at the library. Dark promises to accept the invitation and leaves.

Charles tells the boys that he understands something is evil, and they should stay hidden and come to the library at 7 where they will discuss the entire situation. Charles plans to search the records for a carnival like this.

Notes

The small boy almost gives Jim and Will away. It is interesting to note, though, that despite the danger, Will still finds time to mourn for Mr. Fury. Charles, upon seeing Will and Jim hidden, is angry, signifying that though last night he was not as parental as he should have been, he is still the adult in the situation. Charles, though, does finally understand the gravity of the situation when he speaks with Dark. The fact that Dark squeezes his tattoo of Will until he causes himself to bleed is only further evidence of DarkÂ’s intensity. Charles displays his stupidity when he gives Dark his name and invites him to come by. While he understands the evil presented here, he does not understand the gravity of the situation. Charles does, though, know now that the boys must stay hidden.

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