SPOILERS. When you Reach Me Part II.

My far the most unexpected-moment-story I've ever read. Please note: there are many spoilers.

In When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, main character Miranda realizes that the notes she received were actually from the "laughing man", known to be a crazy person on her block.

My current thoughts to the story all focus on the laughing man. The laughing man, who apparently knew that Sal was going to die and he saved him. The laughing man, who died saving him. It all sounds abnormal, yet makes sense.

First, the reason why Miranda referred to "you" in the book, was because she was writing directly to the noter, the laughing man. At first, I thought the mysterious person who wrote the notes was Sal, or Marcus. The main reason why I thought of it as Sal was because he was a very close friend to Miranda until the pandemonium. Sal may have avoided Miranda because of the notes and him being troubled, or because he felt troubled because he entered Miranda's house, which was almost a diameter away. I also thought that it was Marcus because he punched Sal. It was probably because he wanted him to stop being with Miranda so he can hide the notes. However,it turned out to be neither.

Unfortunately, what I cannot comprehend is how the laughing man knew that Sal was going to die. As intelligent as a person can be, it is nearly impossible for someone to tell the future, especially like that. When reading the last note in the book, I honestly thought that the note was from someone in the future trying to save Sal - possibly, future Sal? Something of the sort. Unexpectedly, it was the homeless guy on the street, practicing his kicks on that corner to prepare for saving Sal. It's seriously tearing to hear such a good old man being treated like a drunk person who's homeless.

But, it brings another questioning factor - why did the laughing man save Sal? May it be because he knows Miranda? Or maybe because he wanted to become a savior when he dies? It's all so confusing. Yet, it brings us to the question - are all homeless people crazy?

No. Maybe yes, if they were drinking enough Tequila to lie on the streets. But the laughing man tried so hard; I can actually picture him - kicking, crying, laughing. It was only for one reason.

To save Sal.