A mostly successsful story by Tony Early in current New Yorker

Tony Early has a compelling story, Back Pack, in the current New Yorker; for whatever flaws the story may evince, it at least has the virtue of being a strong narrative that will engage you right to the end. Throughout my reading of the story, I kept thinking, wondering, what is he doing this?, what will happen next. What happens (no spoilers): a 50ish, somewhat bookish and intellectual guy, living near Chapel Hill, makes a series of purchases in a # of stores, always paying w/ cash and destroying the receipts. Later, after his wife - a successful attorney - leaves for work he shaves his hair and beard and adopts a disguise and new identity, including a new name - Jimmy Ray Gallup, or some name like that, and buys a bus ticket to somewhere in the north. On the bus, a young woman with toddler in tow welcomes him to sit next to her, and events ensue. OK, so we really are trying to figure out what this guy is up to (not that hard to figure out, really) and, more important, why he has adopted this disguise and his seemingly happy home. I'm not sure Early really answers this question and I didn't buy into the way he has things clicking into place at the conclusion - as if Early himself didn't exactly know where to bring this story after he got it off to such a fine start - but it's a totally readable piece and in some ways a successful look into the mind of a man distressed.