An American Dream Chapter 2 Summary

A Runner From the Gaming Room

  • As a devout Catholic, Deborah has always hated that Rojack comes from a family of "Jewish Protestants" (2.8). In fact, she was always deeply concerned about losing her "grace" by living in sin with him.
  • After getting lost in his memories for a bit—not to mention his odd, superstitious beliefs about God and the Devil—Rojack wakes up beside Deborah's body. He goes to the bathroom and washes himself off.
  • Once he's finished, he checks her body again and leaves the room. Although Rojack doesn't quite know what he's doing, he enters Ruta's room.
  • Ruta is lying in bed, doing naughty things to herself. (Lock that door next time, girl!) As if on cue, Rojack approaches her and they have sex. Suffice it to say that things get nasty.
  • They lie in bed afterward, quite pleased with themselves. Ruta heard Rojack and Deborah's struggle, but assumed that they were making some sort of "reconciliation" (2.56), presumably of a sexual nature. Given what we've just seen of Ruta, we're not surprised she makes such an assumption.
  • Rojack is somehow surprised to see Deborah's body when he returns to her room. After a brief cannibalistic fantasy (this dude is certifiably nuts), Rojack realizes what he must do.
  • Slowly, he pulls Deborah's body to the "open window" (2.87)… You can probably guess what happens next: He throws her out.
  • Once he's finished, he calls the police and says that there's been an awful accident.