There There

Part 2 opens on Bill, a janitor at the Oakland Coliseum. He is dating Karen, Edwin’s mother. Karen keeps calling Bill to ask him to drive Edwin places, which Bill resents. To Bill, Edwin is a symbol of the young, politically correct world of social media. However, he agrees to drive Edwin because he believes the young man’s new job is a step in the right direction. As Bill cleans the stadium, he reflects on his relationship with Karen and Edwin, as well as his time in jail, during which he read a lot. Then, just before him, Bill sees a drone plane. He wants to destroy it with his trash-grabber but only gets one hit in before it flies away.

The next section focuses on Calvin Johnson, living with his sister Maggie, who takes medication for bipolar disorder, and her daughter, Sonny. The three are eating dinner when Charles Johnson, their brother, shows up with “his shadow, his twin,” Carlos. Both men hold 40 oz bottles of malt liquor and have the “cool and cruel indifference of guys who know you owe them something” (89). Maggie goes to Sonny’s room. Carlos and Charles have arrived because Calvin owes Octavio money and has not paid.