Paper Towns

As the initial shock of their near-death experience wears off, the group starts cleaning the minivan. Radar estimates that the damage to the car will cost more than $300 to repair. Though Quentin will have to work all summer to pay for the damages, he feels that it is nothing compared to the relief he will feel when he finally finds Margo. The sun begins to rise, and Quentin realizes that his cheek is still bleeding.

Quentin watches the gas stations and restaurants that dot the landscape go by, and finds comfort in their consistency. He really likes the fact that, no matter where he goes, the country looks the same. Lacey tells him that he needs to rest, and straps him into the backseat. Before dozing off completely, he hears his friends laughing, and decides that if they do not find Margo, they will drive around the Catskills and find a place to enjoy themselves, where they can sit and laugh together. He once again imagines the possibility of living without Margo. He thinks he can be happy without her, and that he could feel connected to her even if he never sees her again. Like the leaves of grass in Whitman’s poem, they are all tied together. 

Quentin sleeps through all three hours. 

When Quentin finally wakes up, he overhears Ben, Radar and Lacey discussing possible names for the minivan. Ben says they should name it Muhammad Ali, as it “takes a licking.” Radar wants to name it Lurlene, because that is what it feels like. Lacey informs Quentin that they are now in New York. Quentin admits that he is scared, and Lacey tells him that she is scared as well. She hopes that they will remain friends over the summer, which Quentin takes comfort in. He then says that the minivan should be called Dreidel, after the Hanukkah spinning top, because of its performance in dodging the cows. Everyone agrees.

Driving through upstate New York, Quentin begins a game of “Metaphysical I spy.” Ben spies something that he really likes, which turns out to be Lacey. Quentin reminds him that it has to be something unseen but Ben argues that it is, as he likes the Lacey that cannot be seen on the surface. Both Quentin and Radar mock Ben’s sappiness, and then the group starts singing a song out loud. When they finish singing, Quentin says that he spies “a great story” (277). Ben guesses that the answer is their road trip, which Quentin confirms.

As the group gets closer to Agloe, Quentin and Lacey start telling Ben and Radar everything they can remember about Margo, including the fact that she has a black notebook. Though Ben says they already know most of the information, Quentin just shrugs. He simply wants to remember everything about her while he still has some hope of will seeing her again.