The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship

Ayers settles into his life at the Ballington, and he is “cleaned up and rested” (207). Lopez visits him one day in the apartment, and Ayers is cleaning every surface with 409. Lopez encourages Ayers to start seeing psychiatrists, and Ayers agrees. In order to move Ayers forward, Lopez calls Dr. Ragins, who advises not to “push him into therapy right away” (210).

Lopez considers a career shift when Darrell Steinberg calls to say he is looking for a communications director to “run the business of Prop. 63” (212). He looks at real estate in Sacramento, but his wife Alison protests. She reminds Lopez, “You’d go crazy the first day” (214). Lopez agrees and decides to stay in the reporting business. 

After two months, “Nathaniel has been in his room every night without fail” (214). During the day, he still plays in the Second Street tunnel, and a man gives him a new cello. Ayers is still hanging on to his shopping cart, and Lopez tries to “outsmart him” (217) to get him to give it up. Lopez invites Ayers for Easter brunch with food he likes, but he says the cart must be left at the Ballington.

On Easter, Lopez picks Ayers up, and they drive to his house.