Marco like a Rock Star
Shepard is impressed by Marco's popularity. Marco "walked through the shelter yard like a rock star on the red carpet," which paints a picture of him being surrounded by the other guys who all want to talk to him or at least get his attention.
Baptism as a Cattle Drive
Shepard compares the mass baptism to a cattle drive: "They would herd them on stage and off stage like cattle, their newfound assembly of God’s children." This simile removes the sense of holiness that a baptism usually connotes, and puts the focus on the efficiency of the process.
People like a Pack of Wild Dogs
One day, a man at the shelter expresses his dissatisfaction with his circumstances, so the others start arguing with him: "They surrounded him like a pack of wild dogs preparing to attack their morning meal." This simile emphasizes their hostility and unity.
Life like a Baggage Claim
At the end of the book, Shepard concludes that "life is like a baggage claim," where everyone just cares about their own luggage, disregarding people who struggle to get theirs off the belt. However, he says that we should also be mindful of others and lend a helping hand when they need one.
A Truck like an Enigma
While working at the moving company, Shepard says his truck number 2 is an "enigma," which illustrates how difficult it is to drive because the mechanical parts do not work well anymore. Because of its unreliability, nobody wants to drive it.
