Swords
The weather is cold, and the sky is always grey in the morning. Cowart reflects on the bad weather, allowing him to concentrate on important matters before him. The author compares the morning rattling breeze to the clashing of swords. The author writes, “As he walked from his apartment to the street outside, he could hear the breeze rattle and push a palm tree, making the fonds clash together like so many swords.” However, every year during this time, the country experiences such weather, and Cowart is ready to adopt it and continue with his assignments.
Milk
After Cowart separates from Sandy and his daughter Becky, the distance between them grows. Cowart is guilty that he is not involved in the day-to-day upbringing of his daughter. Cowart is angry that Tom brings up his biological daughter. The author says, "He imagined spilling milk at breakfast." Consequently, Cowart regrets that he has lost everything, including his daughter, and he cannot do anything to change the situation.
Theater
Ferguson's court case trials are compared to the momentum of a theater. The author writes, "Trials took on a certain momentum of their own, like great theater." Cowart finds Ferguson's case unique because the only evidence available is his car's similarity to that spotted at the crime scene. Therefore, Cowart is up to the task of increasing the speed of the court hearing and, more importantly, securing Ferguson's release.
