Hal secretly idealizes Mario — "Booboo," the fire-or-rise credo

pivotal · YDAU present

• When: YDAU present (Hal's standing view).
• What: Hal almost idealizes Mario secretly, believing him a "(semi-) walking miracle"; he calls him Booboo but fears his opinion more than anyone's except their mother's. Hal's credo: people burned or ablated at birth "either curl up in their fire, or else they rise," and "Withered saurian homodontic Mario floats, for Hal" (n.119).