Study Guide

A Hologram for the King Chapter 4

By Dave Eggers

Chapter 4

Alan tries to convince himself that Kit's better off staying home from college for the next year. Her roommate was scary, anyway.
He continues across the desert with Yousef to KAEC. He reflects on a cross-country trip he'd taken with his ex-wife, Ruby, across the U.S.
Ruby had driven him nuts by talking about her exes, and they'd argued the whole way. Alan remembers feeling super alive during all that conflict.
Alan starts telling jokes to Yousef to pass the time on their drive. He recalls that Ruby hated his joke telling. Yousef doesn't seem to mind. Alan loves him.
Alan flashes back to the moment when the body of his friend, Charlie Fallon, was dragged from the lake back home.