The Glass Castle

Why is the event when Brian and Jeannette burned the shed down important, and why is what the dad said significant?

"Dad told us that zone was known in physics as the boundary between turbulence and order. ‘It’s the place where no rules apply, or at least they haven’t figured ’em out yet,’ he said. ‘You-all got a little too close to it today.’"

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One afternoon, while exploring the nearby dump, Brian and Jeannette mix together various hazardous waste liquids in an old shed and set it on fire. The flame quickly grows out of their control, and Brian gets stuck in the shed while Jeannette runs for help. Dad's comment illustrates this a metaphor for life in the Walls family. Turbulence and chaos is what the Walls parents bring up their kids in.