The Goldfish Boy

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, grief, mental illness, and kidnapping.

In the afternoon, Matthew receives an email from Melody confirming that she has purchased his gloves. Though he is reluctant to leave the house, he knows that he must go outside if he is to get those gloves.

Matthew meets Melody in the graveyard, where they sit in peaceful silence for a few minutes, observing the gravestones. While still not asking about the gloves, Melody wants to show Matthew one of her favorite gravestones, grabbing his arm to lead him there. Matthew flinches from her touch, and after seeing how his response affects Melody, tells her that he is afraid of germs. He also tells her about his fear of the number 13, and how, like the germs, he needs to avoid it at all costs. Melody empathizes with Matthew, saying, “It must have been hard for you to tell me all of this” (152). Melody shares why she thought Matthew had asked for the gloves (“because your fingernails creeped you out or something” [152]) and the two laugh together for a long time. Matthew recognizes immediately how good it feels to laugh with someone.

When they settle down, Matthew admits that he is still scared, even now, and that “every single cell in [his] body is telling [him] to go home right this second and wash all these germs away” (153).