When Paul returns home he acts very weird. He does not relate to anyone who lives in his town anymore because he feels like no one knows how to talk about the war. When Paul arrives home, he is greated with his sick mother who is dying of cancer, and because his family is poor, Paul 's mom will not get the proper medical treatment she deserves. Paul, however, does like the love he recives from his mom and is very grateful for all that she has done for him. He denies that anything bad is happening in the war to comfort his mom ,but Paul knows that death is a very big possiblity. Paul has an encounter with a Major who tells him to march because he forgot to salute, and he felt humilated and furious. After the little run in with a major,Paul returns