Chapter Two: Mr. Bowditch. Radar. Night in the Psycho House.

Summary

• Chapter Two starts with the narrator leaving the school he attends, cycling to an old picket fence gate. He sees a bolt that bars the entrance, tried pulling it open, fails, and then climbs over instead.
• The narrator reveals that he's there due to hearing a dog and a man in the distance and gets frightened when he sees a raggedy dog approaching. He manages to make the dog lay down and stay calm.
• The man introduced as Mr. Bowditch is laid up on the porch steps with an apparent broken leg. The narrator calls 911 for him, gives the specifics and waits.
• The narrator learns that the man fell off a ladder, and the dog named Radar is the only companion he has around. He asks the narrator to get some medicine from the house, without touching anything else.
• While the ambulance approaches, the man gives explicit details on how to feed Radar and insists that the narrator doesn't snoop inside his house. He cares deeply for Radar and is concerned about her well-being while he's gone.
• While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, the narrator looks around the house, he stumbles upon the man’s pantry packed with a range of canned and dry goods. He notices Mr Bowditch’s apparent readiness for an apocalypse.
• After the EMTs take Mr. Bowditch away, the narrator says he'll see Radar tomorrow.
• When he gets back home, he talks with his dad about the day’s events. His father calls the man a hoarder but is surprised by the cleanliness of his home. His dad asks him to clean up after dinner.
• The narrator is worried about Radar and decides to check on her later that night, despite being scared by his dad’s joking comparison of Mr. Bowditch to Norman Bates from Psycho.
• The narrator goes back to the house to check on Radar. The dog was startled and appeared to have been scared of being alone. He reassures her and leaves the light on for her when he decides to leave.

• The main character spends time with Radar, a dog he is tasked with caring for. He feeds her a cookie, after considering some knowledge he has that dogs can't eat chocolate.
• While he originally plans to leave, after a phone call with his father discourages him from staying overnight, Radar toys with him and persuades him into staying a bit longer.
• Eventually, the main character leaves but not before setting up Mr. Bowditch's (the dog's original caretaker) shirt next to Radar's dish for comfort and bringing her a stuffed monkey toy.
• On his way home, he looks at the state of the house, realizing several things need fixing, but wonders if he will have the time due to the upcoming baseball season.
• He reflects on his affection towards Radar, equating it to 'love at first sight', and shrugging off any critiques of this affection.
• Finally, he texts his English teacher, Mr. Neville, to inform him that he won't be at school for the first two periods the next day due to a hospital visit. He plans to set the alarm for 5 AM the next morning to return and care for Radar.