The little red Aspire in which Calbert drives himself and Dorcas everywhere is long past dead, is in fact undead, something Calbert refuses to acknowledge. He loves the Aspire, even though it makes tortured shrieks when starting, stopping, reversing or driving a 2% grade. Even though its left rear brake light is smashed, covered with duct tape. (At least, Calbert says, it’s red duct tape.)

The truth is that Calbert sees himself as the Aspire: small, battered, and determined. Deep down, Calbert knows that his little car can fly.

He’s wrong, but only because Dorcas keeps putting PCP in the soup.