How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Five days later the old man was dead." (31.14)
Abandonment doesn't have to be purposeful—this is the second time that Maniac is abandoned by the death of someone he loves. (Way to go and die, Grayson.)
Quote #8
"Maniac might have taken off, but he found himself clung to and clutched by the two little urchins." (34.44)
Maniac finally finds something strong enough to stop the abandonment urge: two little boys. It's not easy to break habits, and sometime we need outside forces to help us do the right thing.
Quote #9
"When he asked himself why he didn't just drop it, drop them, the answer was never clear. It wasn't so much that he wanted to stay as that he couldn't go. In some vague way, to abandon the McNab boys would be to abandon something deep in himself." (40.10)
Maniac finally acknowledges that abandonment doesn't just hurt the person you abandon—it hurts you, too. Looks like someone has learned a Very Important Life Lesson.