After Smithy is left alone in the world following the death of his parents, he finds emotional refuge with Norma and they gradually become friends, yet the troublesome situations of the past make it so that their friendship is somewhat awkward. In a way, I feel that Norma is continually disappointed since she truly cares and attempts to make the best of their friendship, such that she truly cares for Smithy. In comparison, Smithy is ashamed of his past with Norma, ergo causing awkward conversations that never amount to any advancement in their relationship.
Both Smithy and Norma do not want any sympathy or the outside world to feel sorry for them and their situations, and in a way, they are united by their own personal problems. Perhaps due to their many troubles in life they feel more comfortable forgetting the past and in therefore can obtain a better friendship, yet for some reason, Smithy still finds it difficult to speak with Norma. The one act in his past that has caused a sensation of shame, when his entire family was gathered around Norma after the accident and he refused to approach her, continues to ruin their friendship, thus it is yet another obstacle that he must overcome.
As we can derive from the text of the novel, Smithy surely has feelings for Norma, as seen in his dreams and his description of purchasing a new book to read, when he compares the woman on the cover of the book to Norma. Smithy may just be awkward when he speaks to Norma since he fears an argument or even ruining their friendship, yet he is steadily gaining confidence in conversing with Norma to possibly form a relationship in the future. We know that Norma still has feelings for Smithy, as is manifested in every phone-call from and to her.
I'm going to have to argue against your statement that the conversations are awkward. I think that Smithy has accepted that his family mistreated Norma, and he has moved on. Both have feelings for each other, and it is very clearly shown in each conversation. I think that their relationship is one that can't be designated by boyfriend/girlfriend or some other name-- it's something more than that. If you ask me, ever since Smithy has been on the trip, every phone call has only increased his feelings for Norma (and vice versa); somehow, as he is going further away from Norma, he is getting closer to her. I feel that whenever they meet each other again, they will hug it out, I can sense the lovey-dovey on the way :-)
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