Crenshaw

Approximately an hour later, the landlord comes to their apartment with a final eviction notice. He apologizes, hugs Sara, and shakes Tom’s hand, saying he wishes “things could be different” (203). Jackson understands this means they will have to leave the apartment. Tom tells Jackson and Robin that they are “going to be taking a little drive” (204). When Robin asks if they are going to visit their grandmother, Sara replies, “Not exactly,” and slams a cupboard door (204). Robin accuses Jackson of lying to her when he said that everything would be okay. Sara tells Robin to blame her parents not her brother, as it is not Jackson’s fault.

Jackson runs to his room and finds Crenshaw lying on his bed. He buries his head into Crenshaw’s fur and cries. Hearing Crenshaw purring, Jackson recalls reading a book about why cats purr and learning that no one knows exactly why they do it. Jackson notes how surprising it is, all the “stuff adults don’t know” (205).

That afternoon, Marisol stops by Jackson’s apartment with the dogs they were meant to walk. As Jackson and Marisol set off together with the dogs, he sees Crenshaw walking and doing cartwheels. Jackson wonders how to tell Marisol that his family is moving since he has not divulged his family’s financial problems to her before. He has not lied, but he has omitted facts. He begins to make up a story about a sick relative, until Crenshaw whispers into his ear, “The truth, Jackson” (208).

Jackson closes his eyes, hoping Crenshaw will be gone when he opens them. Instead, he sees Marisol smiling at him and decides to tell her the truth about his family and his fears. Crenshaw nods at him approvingly, and Jackson decides also to tell her about Crenshaw.

Jackson expects Marisol to tell him that he is crazy. Instead, she tells him that people do not know everything, and the unknown “makes things more interesting” (211). Jackson believes science and life are both about facts, and knowledge of them can help people control whether something happens or not. Marisol asks if he wants Crenshaw to go away; Jackson is unsure. She says she wishes she could see him.

Jackson tells her he should be committed. In response, Marisol reminds him of a magician who visited their school in second grade. Jackson figured out the secret of his magic trick and revealed it to the class. Jackson feels proud at the memory, but Marisol tells him he “took the magic away” (213). She encourages him to enjoy the magic while he can. She tells him she and Jackson will be friends for life. No matter where he goes, they will find a way to keep in touch. Jackson thanks her for not laughing at him about Crenshaw. She tells him she can practically see Crenshaw “doing backflips on my front lawn” (214). Jackson clarifies that he is “doing the splits on your driveway” (214). Marisol gives Jackson a “fun fact”: we can hear music, but we cannot see the sound waves that produce it.

That night, Jackson and Crenshaw go into the backyard and chat. Jackson tells him a cat fact, and Crenshaw replies that he already knows it because imaginary friends know everything their person knows. Jackson asks why Crenshaw has grown so much bigger; Crenshaw explains that Jackson needed a bigger friend. As Crenshaw toys with a cricket, Jackson asks him if he feels guilty for “the way cats torture things” (218). Crenshaw says no because that is how cats are made, adding, “Life isn’t always fair” (218). Jackson sighs and says he knows.

Crenshaw says that he knows other imaginary friends, including Marisol’s and Tom’s, the latter of whom plays the guitar and is called Finian. Jackson is surprised that his father had an imaginary friend. Crenshaw informs him it is “more common than you might think” (220). Jackson asks what Crenshaw does when he is not with Jackson. Crenshaw tells him imaginary friends hang out together in the equivalent of “a giant teachers’ lounge,” where they wait until they are needed (221). They are like books—“created,” “enjoyed,” “dog-eared and creased,” and “tucked away until” needed (222).