On August 18, 1957, John writes to Mary that he has moved into Mary’s old room in Mrs. Gillette’s boarding house, which is under new management. The room had already been rented, but Durand offered those tenants a discount if they agreed to move to a different room.

On August 26, John describes his apartment and the other tenants in the building—Jim Blue, Rufus Furnauer, Heck and Martha McLanny, Annabelle, and Durand, the new owner.

On September 7, John writes that he avoids visiting the farm. Gar and Trudy are better at running the business, and the dogs are changing, getting larger and more intelligent.

On October 12, John notes that he explored religion, wanting to die and be with Mary, but he just cannot believe in an afterlife. On October 15, he says his gratitude for his life with Mary is as close to religion as he can get, and on the October 23, he writes to say he asked Frank for LSD.

On May 27, 1958, John writes that Gar and Trudy welcomed a healthy son, Edgar, who has a voice disorder. Unable to stay on the farm, John watched from the top of the hill as Page cared for the dogs.