Ham on Rye

Still stuck in bed, Henry begins to write stories to entertain himself. He writes about a German World War I pilot named Baron Von Himmlen who is socially alienated and physically scarred, just like Henry. Writing about the Baron’s heroic deeds makes Henry feel good.

Henry continues his painful acne treatment but becomes used to the process. His father finds work as a guard at a museum. Since his father has a job, Henry is no longer entitled to the free treatment at the hospital. He never sees Miss Ackerman again. Henry Senior wants his son to reenroll in high school. Henry discovers the public library and reads books by Upton Sinclair, Sinclair Lewis, Josephine Lawrence, D. H. Lawrence, Ernest Hemingway, and many more. He reads late into the night, despite his father’s instructions to go to bed.

Back at high school, Henry is still ignored by the rich students. A group of “the poor and the lost” (155) students form around Henry, much to his annoyance.