It's Kind of a Funny Story

That afternoon, a “guitar guy” named Neil leads activities. The residents rush toward the pile of instruments in the middle of the room and all start playing music, singing “I Shot the Sheriff” together. Jimmy starts singing the phrase, “How sweet it is!” Craig feels a fondness for Jimmy and thinks that Jimmy must know the two of them came to Six North on the same day. Craig wants to dance like the other residents, and for once, instead of focusing on how awkward it is, he allows himself to enjoy the moment. He and Noelle dance together.

After the activities hour is over, Neil tells Craig that he has a natural sense of rhythm and ability to get people moving. He suggests that Craig consider volunteering himself. Craig says that he would, but he has found an outlet in his maps. As they say goodbye, Craig feels an awkward distance between patient and volunteer because “they know that you’re still broken somewhere, that you might snap at any moment” (339). Craig’s parents visit quickly, followed by Nia a little while later.

Nia tells Craig that she and Aaron broke up. She was furious for how he reacted after finding out that she was taking antidepressants. When Nia raises her voice, “The Professor,” whose real name is Amanda, pokes her head in and tells them to be quiet. Aaron reassures Nia and puts his hand on her thigh. She says that she’s been thinking about checking in to a place “like this.” This bothers Craig, who explains that he had called the suicide hotline on Friday night. Craig realizes that he’s distracted by Nia’s presence and wants to ask her to leave. Instead, he takes her to visit his room.

Immediately upon entering Craig’s room, Nia complains about the smell, which Craig attributes to Muqtada not wearing deodorant. Craig acts like he’s cleaning up but flips over his brain maps so that she can’t see them. He tells Nia that he has been making friends. Nia makes a rude comment about Amanda and tells Craig that she’d let him kiss her if he wanted to. Craig realizes that “everything from my stomach up” (349) wants to tell Nia to leave but he kisses her instead. Nia says that having sex in a hospital was on her bucket list, and she and Aaron had never done anything “like this.” Craig doesn’t appreciate the comparison to Aaron but continues kissing Nia. Before they can go further, Muqtada arrives, shouting. Smitty reprimands Craig for bringing a visitor to his room. Frustrated by Nia’s rudeness, Craig tells her that even though he likes kissing her, “I don’t really like you as a person” (352). Muqtada explains that he was out trying to get Egyptian music. Just then, Craig sees Noelle running down the hallway back into her room. It’s just a couple hours before their second date.

At seven o’ clock that night, Craig is surprised that Noelle arrives. He finds comfort sitting in a chair that others who were struggling have sat in. Noelle wears low-rise jeans and Craig can see her pink star underwear. Her shirt says, “I hate boys” which Craig assumes is about him. She replies that his self-centeredness is exactly why she doesn’t like boys. Craig admits that “We tend to assume that the world was built for us” (357). Noelle harshly teases him for kissing Nia. He’s embarrassed that she saw the whole thing. Craig realizes that Nia was insecure and isn’t used to not having a boyfriend. Craig tells Noelle that she’s beautiful, intelligent, and he likes her for the cuts on her face which are “honest” (363). They realize that they both had breakdowns because of immense pressure. Noelle felt pressure to be beautiful and Craig felt pressure to be smart. Noelle says that someone took advantage of her. She admits that she had lied earlier and that there’s nothing she can do about the scars. Craig shows her a brain map, promising that he needs to finish it. He asks for her phone number.

Humble returns, freshly shaven and clean. He is dazed after being in the geriatric ward. Craig introduces him to Noelle. Humble says that Craig’s problem is that he is too smart and that he burned out earlier than the average person would. He’s had a midlife crisis as a teenager, whereas “before you had to wait until you were twenty to have enough choices of things to do with your life to start getting freaked out” (373). They reflect on how the world has become more and more complex, introducing new pressures to children at younger ages. Craig leaves to call his Dad for a favor.