Chapter Two: Marriage, War, and the Arrival of Skip

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with a panoramic view of Bonhomie at night, where wartime measures have darkened the Tuck & Sons tulip sign and sparked debates about home security. Cal Jenkins, now married to Becky, serves as a messenger for the Citizens Defense Corps, patrolling streets that remain uneventful. He and Becky share a small apartment above a barbershop, learning to cohabitate while enjoying an active sex life. Their friend Janice visits for séances, which Cal tolerates but finds silly.

Everett, Cal’s father, writes a bitter letter to President Roosevelt accusing him of war profiteering. Riding his homemade tricycle into town for salvage, Everett acquires a runt puppy from Mrs. Crenshaw, naming him Little Tramp.

When Cal reveals Becky’s pregnancy, Everett reacts with forced enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Becky’s father, Roman Hanover, offers to buy the couple a house and give Cal a job at his hardware store—a deal Cal accepts despite feeling insulted. They move into a Sears-catalogue house on Taft Street, where a young buckeye tree grows in the yard.

Becky continues her “spiriting” sessions, even attempting to contact Nikola Tesla with Cal’s participation. Her pregnancy grows difficult: exhaustion, high blood pressure, and glucose levels force her to quit work and eventually lead to a decision after childbirth. She meets neighbor Mrs. Dodson, a widow whose husband and son died in the war, and offers to conduct a séance for her. After a prolonged labor, Becky delivers a nine-and-a-half-pound boy they name Cal Jr., nicknamed Skip. Doctors warn that another pregnancy would be too risky, but Becky finds joy in motherhood. Cal gradually overcomes his fear of the baby. Finally, Everett visits and holds Skip, weeping at the sight of his grandson.

Key Events

Cal and Becky settle into married life in an apartment above a barbershop.
Everett writes a letter to President Roosevelt denouncing the war and accusing him of capitalist greed.
Everett acquires a runt puppy from Mrs. Crenshaw and names him Little Tramp.
Cal announces Becky’s pregnancy to Everett, who responds awkwardly.
Roman Hanover offers Cal a house and a job at his hardware store, which Cal accepts.
The Jenkinses move to a house on Taft Street with a buckeye tree.
Becky invites Cal to participate in a séance to contact Nikola Tesla; the attempt fails.
Becky befriends neighbor Mrs. Dodson, who lost her husband and son in the war, and offers to conduct a séance for her.
After a difficult pregnancy, Becky gives birth to Cal Jr. (Skip), and doctors advise against future pregnancies.
Everett finally visits and holds his grandson, reacting with emotional tears.

Character Development

Cal Jenkins: Transitions from a concrete plant worker to a hardware store employee, gaining confidence in his new role. He learns to embrace fatherhood, overcoming initial terror at the baby’s fragility.
Becky Jenkins: Deepens her commitment to her spiritual practice, using séances to connect with others. She endures a grueling pregnancy with grace and discovers fierce maternal instincts.
Everett Jenkins: Remains isolated and bitter, yet shows a tender side when he holds Skip, breaking down in tears.
Roman Hanover: Displays a manipulative generosity, using financial help to control Cal, while revealing prejudiced attitudes toward refugees and non-white neighborhoods.
Mrs. Dodson: Represents the human cost of war, her grief palpable but her resilience quietly evident.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

War and the Home Front: The chapter contrasts distant battles with local anxieties—blackouts, salvage drives, and suspicion of neighbors. Everett’s letter and the town hall meeting reflect divisive patriotism.
Marriage and Partnership: Cal and Becky navigate cohabitation, sex, and shared duties. Their relationship evolves from dating to true partnership.
Parenthood and Legacy: The birth of Skip shifts the family’s focus from survival to nurturing. The buckeye tree outside their new home symbolizes growth and rootedness.
Spirituality and Connection: Becky’s séances represent a desire to bridge the seen and unseen worlds, offering comfort to the grieving Mrs. Dodson.
Class and Dependency: Roman’s offer of aid comes with strings attached, exposing the tension between independence and familial obligation.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Two grounds the novel’s central relationships and introduces the next generation. It deepens the portrait of Bonhomie under wartime pressure, contrasting public sacrifice with private joys. The birth of Skip and the medical warning redefine Becky and Cal’s future, while Everett’s stumbling tenderness hints at possible healing. Roman’s bigotry and control set up ongoing conflicts.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Roman offer to buy Cal and Becky a house, and how does Cal feel about the offer? Roman sees Cal’s low-paying job and the small apartment as insufficient for his pregnant daughter’s future. He offers a house and a job to ensure financial stability, but his condescending tone—calling Cal a “bum”—makes Cal feel grateful yet insulted. Cal accepts because he recognizes the practical benefit, even as the deal reinforces Roman’s control.

2. How does Everett’s visit to meet his grandson differ from his usual behavior? Everett is normally reclusive, drunk, and resentful of company. When Becky insists he hold Skip, he becomes overwhelmed with emotion, weeping into his beard and saying “Look what you did.” This rare display of vulnerability suggests that the baby stirs long-buried feelings of connection and maybe regret.

3. What medical complication arises from Becky’s pregnancy, and how does it affect the couple’s plans? Becky suffers from high blood pressure and glucose levels throughout the pregnancy and loses significant blood during delivery. Both doctors advise that another pregnancy would be dangerously risky. This forces Cal and Becky to abandon their plan for two children, a loss that Becky feels deeply until the joy of holding Skip surpasses her sadness.