I understand why you're confused. You're thinking too much.

Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.

"What's this? Trix? Aunt! Trix? You? You're after the prize! What is it?" He picked up the box and studied the back. "A glow-in-the-dark squid! Have you got it out of there yet?" He tilted the box, angling the little colored balls of cereal

The pollution's at that awkward stage. Too thick to navigate and too thin to cultivate.

The trouble with the rat-race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.