Chapter two, Friendship, chronicles Ned's venture into the world of male camaraderie as he joins a bowling team and observes the conversations and behaviors a group of like-minded guys share when they are away from their wives and families. Ned details his initial insecurities, fears, thoughts and first impressions of the men, but soon his judgements wore off and he grew a tight bond with these men-- telling stories, cracking jokes, and even occasionally sharing feelings (very briefly, but it happened nonetheless). Ned was "one of the guys"; he considered the guys as more than just teammates but as close confidents. Eventually he fessed up and admitted that he was a woman. To his surprise they were not angry but accepted and enjoyed him as Norah. As a result the bonds between the men strengthened and led to an all-around deeper understanding of gender and sex. 
First off, this chapter is remarkable because it recounts Ned's first "real life" encounter with others while disguised as a man. But what struck me as particularly significant is just how keenly she observed, and in turn, how truthfully she reported her findings. Vincent paints a picture in the minds of the readers making it easy for us to imagine the shabby bowling alley-- smell of cigarette smoke, the sounds of crashing pins, and the clumsy yet loving rapport forming between Ned and the others. She approached the matter with an ironic twist. In her quest to crack into the minds of these simple-minded men--to "figure them out" or perhaps further her preconceived judgements--the men actually taught Vincent a lesson. She concludes the chapter with some heavy introspection, admitting feeling silly and even a little guilty after the bowling season ended. "They had taken me in, and I had deceived them," she reflects with a dash of shame. But despite feeling like "a shithead" and "arrogant prick know-it-all", she found consolation and gratitude in the fact that she had found true, lifelong friends--an indication that the male brotherhood really isn't entirely exclusive or macho, but a gift to be cherished.
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