It's kind of hard to make friends when one is invisible, but Bobby somehow manages to find a pal anyway in Things Not Seen. When he meets Alicia, he realizes that because she is blind, he can interact with her normally, instead of just hanging around like a silent ghost. They strike up a friendship, and even when she finds out about his situation, she sticks around. In fact, it brings them closer together because they are both suffering from a condition, although his is certainly more bizarre than hers. And even though she's a relatively new friend, by the end of the novel, there is no one that Bobby trusts more besides his own family.
Questions About Friendship
- Why do you think Bobby chooses Alicia as his new friend?
- Do you think Bobby and Alicia would have been friends if they had just met under normal circumstances?
- Why does Alicia get mad when Bobby is finally visible again?
Chew on This
Bobby and Alicia's friendship deepens after their visit to Sears, Roebuck and Company, because they realize that they are both willing to suffer consequences in order to protect the other person.
Even though Alicia continues to push Bobby away with anger and sarcasm, he understands her better than anyone else because he knows what it is like to wake up one morning completely changed.