In the Castle of My Skin

Amid the screeching of parakeets, G. and his friend Bob walk to the beach. They pass through Belleville, “where the white people lived, and the streets bordered by palm trees were called avenues. Here the houses were all bungalows high and wide with open galleries and porticoes” (109). The morning star shines bright and beautiful in the sky, but as they walk without talking, G. realizes that something is wrong between him and Bob. Bob suggests that they take separate routes to see which one is shorter. G. agrees, then dismisses the idea and runs back to spy on his friend. Likewise, Bob turns back to spy on G., and the two crash into one another. Due to Bob’s peculiar behavior, G. again surmises that something is wrong. While walking, G. guesses at various cloud formations, with some looking like men and others like beasts, and says, “The sky was like a great big bully choosing the life and death of these tottering shapes” (111).

G. finds Bob, who’d gone ahead earlier, cracking sea eggs on the beach. When he approaches, however, Bob runs off. G. gives chase but loses him. He then dives into the sea and wonders what’s wrong.