Sam and Patrick are gone for Christmas, but Charlie does not lament their absence because is distracted with daydreams about Sam: “I don’t feel too bad about it because I can still remember Sam’s kiss. It feels peaceful and right. I even considered not washing my lips like they do on TV, but then I thought it would get too gross” (73).

He walks over to a big hill where he used to go sledding as a child and reflects on how people change and grow: “[A]ll of those little kids are going to do the things that we do. And they will all kiss someone someday. But for now, sledding is enough. I think it would be great if sledding were always enough, but it isn’t” (74).

He is excited for Christmas and his birthday to be over because he usually goes to “a bad place”(74) during this time, and he can feel it happening already. He first started experiencing these episodes after his aunt Helen was gone, and it was so bad that he had to see a doctor and was held back a grade: “It’s kind of like when you look at yourself in the mirror and say your name.