Geek Love

A strange man shows up, wanting to speak to Arty: “‘He writes notes,' said Chick. ‘He can’t talk and he’s lost his face’” (209). It turns out the man is Vern Bogner, the same person who tried to kill the Binewski children in the parking lot ten years before. Vern’s face is covered with a veil, with only his right eye showing. With Oly standing guard, Vern writes out his story one sheet at a time and hands the pages to Arty.

Oly, in the present, recounts Vern’s story. After he is convicted of attempted murder, Vern is sent to a state hospital, where he enjoys the monotony and peace of solitary confinement. He begins to think about his children, who are living with his ex-wife, and he begins to worry about them. He also thinks about the Binewskis again: “He decided that Teddy and Brenda were going to become freaks like that if Emily was allowed to raise them” (212). He works to appear well enough to be released from the hospital and goes to live with his mother. Stealing his mother’s money and car, Vern picks up his children after school and drives off with them. After a road trip, Vern returns the children to their home and shoots his ex-wife with a shotgun, then tries to kill himself. He blasts 75% of his face off, but lives. Because of all the plastic pouches attached to his face, he becomes known as the Bag Man. Though Vern is sentenced to life in prison, he is released due to budget cuts and returns to his mother’s house.

Once the story has been completed, Arty asks the Bag Man what he wants. Vern writes, “Let me stay with you. Work for you. Take care of you” (219). Arty agrees to let him stay.

Sanderson has many quotes from Arty and notes about his impressions of the Binewskis. There are also notes of Sanderson’s interviews with the Binewskis. The reader gets an outsider’s view of the family and insights into topics such as why all the female workers on the midway are required to be redheads, natural or dyed (there are differing opinions on the real reason). Through the quotes from Arty, the reader sees that Arty has constructed his own ideas about how leaders are chosen, the nature of truth and lies, and the “horror of normalcy” (223).

Lil tells Sanderson about the shooting incident with Vern and how Arty was withdrawn after it, especially when Chick was born. Lil talks about a time when she took Arty with her to see a faith-healing dentist who was set up in the same town as the Fabulon, to cheer the boy up. Arty seemed reflective after observing how the faith healer worked his crowd, and had a card taped to his wall that read, “The only liars bigger than the quack are the quack’s patients” (226).

In his notes, Sanderson also outlines in detail the organization and structure of Arturism. He lists the causes for exclusion from the cult, which includes those unable to make informed decisions for themselves and those who are already deemed “a freak.” There is a description of the “rest homes” where the Admitted go once they complete their transition to a head and torso, or those considered ineligible for progress towards completion. Sanderson offers notes from a policy meeting of the Arturan committee, discussing whether or not to include breasts and testicles in the shedding process. Sanderson has notes on a conversation he has with Arty about keeping his followers in isolation. Arty talks to Sanderson about the appeal of Arturism: “Truth is, I don’t need tricks and traps and brainwashing because I’m giving the poor sorry sons-abitches what they crave more than air” (231).

This chapter is composed of excerpts from Norval Sanderson’s notes. Sanderson has many quotes from Arty and notes about his impressions of the Binewskis. There are also notes of Sanderson’s interviews with the Binewskis. The reader gets an outsider’s view of the family and insights into topics such as why all the female workers on the midway are required to be redheads, natural or dyed (there are differing opinions on the real reason). Through the quotes from Arty, the reader sees that Arty has constructed his own ideas about how leaders are chosen, the nature of truth and lies, and the “horror of normalcy” (223).

Lil tells Sanderson about the shooting incident with Vern and how Arty was withdrawn after it, especially when Chick was born. Lil talks about a time when she took Arty with her to see a faith-healing dentist who was set up in the same town as the Fabulon, to cheer the boy up. Arty seemed reflective after observing how the faith healer worked his crowd, and had a card taped to his wall that read: “The only liars bigger than the quack are the quack’s patients” (226).

In his notes, Sanderson also outlines in detail the organization and structure of Arturism. He lists the causes for exclusion from the cult, which includes those unable to make informed decisions for themselves and those who are “already a freak.” There is a description of the “rest homes” where the Admitted go once they complete their transition to a head and torso, or those considered ineligible for progress towards completion. Sanderson offers notes from a policy meeting of the Arturan committee, discussing where or not to include mammaries and testicles in the shedding process. Sanderson has notes on a conversation he has with Arty about keeping his followers in isolation. Arty talks to Sanderson about the appeal of Arturism: “Truth is, I don’t need tricks and traps and brainwashing because I’m giving the poor sorry sons-abitches what they crave more than air” (231).