On June 12, Lenny writes a passionate lament to Eunice in his diary. Each day, he looks at his checklist to remind himself to “love Eunice” until she runs off with “some mindless jerk” (74). His own family, he writes, messages him regularly in broken English to call him home. He wants, he explains, “to feel a little more secure about [himself]” before visiting them “in their vibrant right-wing habitat” (74).

Lenny’s “AmericanMorning portfolio” (75), although attached to the yuan (as his salary is) instead of the dollar, is losing value. His asset managers invested in “ColgatePalmoliveYum!BrandsViacomCredit” (75) where they should have invested in high performing nations. Unrest in Russia, and America’s invasion of Venezuela, are also hurting his funds. Lenny recognizes that “money equals life” (75) in his world.

He needs Joshie if he can reverse the “demise” he “paved the toll road” (75) for with his indulgent Italian lifestyle. Lenny decides to work hard at the office. Although he has yet to complete an intake, he works to gain followers within the company. He leaves his books at home. He learns “to worship [his] new äppärät’s screen, the colorful pulsating mosaic of it, the fact that it knows every last stinking detail about the world, whereas [his] books only know the minds of their authors” (76).