Seagull as metaphor for Dave's progress through foster care
Near the end of the book, Dave watches a seagull try to fly with the flock. It is weaker than the others and has to fight to defend its meal. He considers it a metaphor for his progress in foster care: struggling upward but not quite achieving what he wanted to achieve. Eventually, the seagull drives the other birds away.
Bag as symbol of worthlessness
When Dave is moved from one home to another, all of his clothing and possessions are in a paper or plastic bag, like garbage. He doesn't have boxes or bins, much less proper luggage. Having to move his belongings around in the flimsy bags that make them look like trash reminds him how unimportant and trash-like he himself must be.
Physical motion as symbol of freedom
One of the punishments Dave endures as a child is having to stand or sit for hours without moving. When he arrives in his new foster home, one of the first things he does when he realizes he does not need to be still is to run from room to room, bouncing on beds, and enjoying the opportunity to just let his energy out. He is finally free of the abuse, and one of the ways he expresses his relief and freedom is by moving around.
Bicycle as symbol of independence
A yellow and red Murray bicycle, with a few parts missing, is Dave's opportunity to explore his neighborhood. He rides around, savoring the freedom of being outdoors and not having to account for his whereabouts. It allows him to feel free, independent, and somewhat in control. It also allows him the opportunity to satisfy his urge to check up on his mother and brothers. Dave craves independence partly because he doesn't entirely trust adults. The bike allows him to move about without relying on adults.
Warmth as symbol of safety
In the garage or at the bottom of his mother's stairs, Dave is generally cold and hungry. He is never given enough blankets or clothing, and is frequently made to run and exercise outdoors in cold weather. Such clothing as he receives typically wears out and is not replaced, so one of the things he associates with safety and comfort is warmth. Cold is something he associates with hardship and danger.
At first, one of the only places Dave feels completely safe and warm is in his bed in one of his foster homes. However in the retrospective passages describing his trip to the Russian River as an adult, he says that he feels "warm inside", having created his own sense of safety and even his own family to belong to in the form of his son, Stephen.
