Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

After sorting everything in the suitcase, Jeremy and Lizzy find about 200 keys and agree to start trying them tomorrow. That night, Lizzy comes over and announces she got her period for the first time, which makes Jeremy feel awkward. The next day, they find three keys for three of the box’s locks in the suitcase, having no luck with the fourth lock. They leave for Jeremy’s grandmother’s the next day, and staring at the box, Jeremy thinks that “to be one key short, the day before we leave, is almost worse than being four keys short” (241).

The next day, they go to Jeremy’s grandmother’s place in New Jersey. Lizzy is still tired from her period and rests while Jeremy messes around with the hula hoop. He’s actually good and is shocked to find everyone watching him, including Lizzy.

Despite how much they’ve been dreading it, Jeremy and Lizzy have fun at the fair. When it’s their turn to perform at the talent show, Lizzy says she can’t hula because of cramps and begs Jeremy to take her place. Reluctantly, he agrees, finding that he enjoys the performance more than he thought he would.