But your book is wrong, Mrs. Strunk, says George, when it tells you that Jim is the substitute I found for a real son, a real kid brother, a real husband, a real wife. Jim wasn't a substitute for anything. And there is no substitute for Jim, if you'll forgive my saying so, anywhere.

Summary

In this quote, George challenges the idea that Jim, presumably a deceased loved one, could ever be seen as a mere substitute for someone else. He asserts that Jim was unique and irreplaceable, and therefore cannot be equated to any other individual. George implies that no one can fill the void left by Jim's absence, highlighting the profound and irreplaceable impact that Jim had on his life.

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