"Prime numbers are what is left when you have taken all the patterns away. I think prime numbers are like life. They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them" (12).This quote clearly defines Christopher's character and explains his behavior throughout the novel. Christopher is a very logical person who uses patterns to define his mannerisms. For example, on his way to school on the school bus each morning he counts cars. Three red cars in a row means a "Quite Good Day," four red cars in a row means a "Good Day," five cars in a row means a "Super Good Day," and three yellow cars in a row means a "Black Day." On "Black Days" Christopher sits in a corner reading this book and doesn't talk to anyone, eat anything, or take any risks. He does all of this to keep things a certain way. As long as he can classify his life by these patterns, he can determine how to act on a specific day. The interesting aspect of this quote is how Christopher interprets life without patterns. For him, life without patterns is meaningless and confusing. This is why people, emotions, and spontaneous life perplexes him so. He desperately tries to figure out why people act the way they do, but as we all know, sometimes there is simply no rhyme or reason. Christopher cannot make these connections which is why he is easily frustrated, acts out, and generally lives the way he does.
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