The chapter opens with a discussion of whether or not a person is "free to date whoever he likes" . It is clear that the reader is aware of the fact that this is a serious matter. The reader is also aware that marriage is a commitment, and that it is necessary to pay for the family's living expenses. However, the reader does not want to drag the reader into his or her own problems, so he suggests that it might be best for the two of them if they were to "maintain the status quo" , i.e., not get involved in the petty details of everyday life. He then asks if he is sure that he is okay with the idea of going out with his friend, and the reader replies that he would rather go back to the office than go out with someone he has not seen in a long time. He tells the reader that something happened between him and his friend in middle school, and he agrees to let the two go out if they want to go for a walk. The two then discuss what happened the previous day, when the two friends ignored each other completely. They decide that the next day, they will "have a good day" and that they will not feel like they did that day again. The narrator then asks the reader if he has ever wanted to feel this way before. He says that he never wanted to "feel like" he did the day before, but that he has stopped by every book store in the world to