The narrator met a psychiatrist because he was sure he had been on the third level of the Grand Central Station.
He was also aware of the fact that only two levels of the station existed and the presidents of the rail road would even swear on a stack of timetables to prove this point. The need to meet a psychiatrist became urgent because he was in a dilemma.
Charley
Charley loved stamp collecting. Charley argued that his own grandfather lived at a time when things were pretty nice and peaceful and he was the one who had actually started his collection of stamps. Charley refused to believe that his stamp collecting was 'a temporary refuge' from reality.
Charley felt there was a tunnel that nobody knew about, which was feeling its way under the city at that moment too, on its way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. Grand Central, he felt, was like an exit, a way of escape and perhaps that's how he got into the tunnel. He didn't want to tell the psychiatrist, for he would not have believed him and would have wanted to treat him.
The most shocking and disturbing discovery Charley made was that the note had been sent by his friend Sam who had recently disappeared. Charley found out that he had exchanged a large sum of present time dollars and bought eight hundred dollars worth of old-style currency which he wanted to invest in the business in 1894 at Galesburg. He also admitted that Sam was his psychiatrist who could not go back to his 'old business' (psychiatry) in 1894.
In 'The Third Level', Jack Finney treats his favourite subject 'Time' in a new dimension. The Third Level is a point where the past and the present meet. Charley, the protagonist loses his way. He finds himself in what he thinks is the third level of the Grand Central Station in New York. He realizes that something is different and discovers that he has somehow reached the year 1894. It is the period Finney would want to be in. The responses and happiness of the three characters in the story revolve around the third level. Charley is excited and wants two tickets for Galesburg, a peaceful town in the pre-war period. Sam, Charley's psychiatrist friend attributes it to his desire to escape from the stress of life. Later on, Sam drew all his life's savings from the bank and exchanged it for 1894 currency. He was able to cross time and reach a quieter, more peaceful past where his services as a psychiatrist were not required. Louisa did not believe that one could cross over the time dimension till Charley received a letter from Sam. Jack Finney leaves the readers wondering what 'The Third Level' really is. Even though Charley is able to find proof and make the transition back and forth in time, Sam, his friend is already there and enjoying himself. The reader gets transported into the shadowy, eerie world of dreams, desires and reality.
Despite Charley's efforts to go to the third level, he was unable to find it again. He shared his experience with his wife, who got worried. He went back to his stamps. His friend Sam had disappeared and nobody knew where he was but Charley was certain that he had found the third level and gone there. Charley's description of the place had fascinated him and he had gone there in 1894.
Charley read the note that confirmed the fact that the third level was true. The note signed by Sam also read that he had been at Galesburg for two weeks and was enjoying himself there. Sam had urged Charley and his wife Louisa to keep looking for the third level till they could find it and join him. It was worth the effort.
Who was Charles Finney?
The man whom Charley met, wore a derby hat, a black four-button suit with tiny lapels, and he had a big, black handlebar moustache. He pulled out a golden watch from his vest pocket, looked at the time and frowned.
Elaine Finney's birth name is Carla Elaine Finney.
Kurt Finney's birth name is Kurt Brian Finney.
Megan Finney's birth name is Megan Louise Finney.