Chapter summaries Congratulations, the Best is Over! R. Eric Thomas

Chapter 19: Rainbow Connection – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

David completes the backyard pond, adding a shallow beach, a solar‑powered waterfall, and a hose to refill it on hot days. The front yard still floods, so he digs a trench—a “moat”—to capture runoff from the neighbor’s elevated lawn. A toad appears in the moat; David buys it a toad house and gradually moves the house toward the pond. Male tree frogs soon arrive, and Thomas dubs the pond the “Amphibian Gay Bar.” The frog population explodes over May, producing a deafening chorus that keeps Thomas awake for nights. He tries spraying vinegar as a deterrent, which kills a patch of decorative grass and forces him to confront his own destructive impulses. After a return from Oregon reveals the garden flourishing untended, the frogs abruptly leave at the end of mating season. Thomas and David share a quiet evening by the pond, watching fireflies and recalling their dream of a community‑filled yard.

Key Events

  • David finishes the pond with a waterfall, solar aerator, and wildlife access.
  • The front yard acquires a trench that functions as a moat.
  • A toad takes residence in the moat; David buys a toad house and relocates it.
  • Male tree frogs begin calling; Thomas names the scene the “Amphibian Gay Bar.”
  • The frog population multiplies, producing a constant, loud chorus.
  • Thomas loses sleep, searches online for solutions, and tries vinegar.
  • Vinegar kills a patch of grass, leading Thomas to feel guilty.
  • After returning from Oregon, Thomas sees the garden has grown lush on its own.
  • The frogs vanish when mating season ends.
  • Thomas and David enjoy a nighttime dinner by the pond, watching fireflies.

Character Development

R. Eric Thomas – The narrator’s fragility is laid bare: sleep deprivation turns him into a frantic, vinegar‑wielding “madman.” He questions whether he is failing the shared dream with David, and struggles with the tension between progressive values and his own urge to control the yard. His journey concludes with a tentative acceptance of the garden’s wildness and a renewed hope for community.

David – Remains a steady, problem‑solving presence. He builds the pond, the moat, and the toad house, and he buys earplugs for Thomas. He finds the frog chorus relaxing, contrasting with Thomas’s agitation. David’s calm creation of welcoming spaces mirrors his earlier work at an LGBTQ‑affirming church.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Community and Belonging – The pond becomes an “Amphibian Gay Bar,” a playful queer space that attracts dozens of frogs. Thomas’s struggle to tolerate the noise mirrors the real‑world challenge of building inclusive communities that may be loud or inconvenient.

Nature’s Indifference – The garden refuses to obey human plans: flooding, evaporation, frog invasions, and grass death all remind Thomas that he cannot fully control the natural world.

Happiness as a Burden – Thomas frames happiness as a “holy grail” and an “albatross.” His intense desire to be happy in the new house clashes with the reality of discomfort, creating guilt and self‑doubt.

Letting Go vs. Forcing Change – The vinegar experiment backfires, and only patience (allowing mating season to end) solves the frog problem. The narrative suggests that some problems resolve when we stop trying to force them.

The Garden as Metaphor – The messy but beautiful garden represents Thomas and David’s relationship and their shared dream. Tending it brings joy to David but stress to Thomas, illustrating their differing approaches to life.

Why This Chapter Matters

“Rainbow Connection” deepens the book’s exploration of how moving to the suburbs challenges Thomas’s sense of self. It shows that even a seemingly minor environmental disturbance—loud frogs—can trigger an existential crisis. The chapter’s central image, the Amphibian Gay Bar, ties together the memoir’s recurring themes of queer community, home‑making, and the difficulty of sustaining hope after loss. The quiet resolution highlights Thomas’s gradual shift from fighting reality to accepting it, a lesson that resonates throughout the book.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Thomas refer to the frog‑filled pond as an “Amphibian Gay Bar”?
He and David both have histories of creating LGBTQIA+ spaces—Thomas at an LGBTQ center, David as an intern pastor leading an affirming group. The pond attracts only male tree frogs, whose mating calls sound like a lively social scene. The nickname playfully connects their activism to the accidental queer sanctuary in their backyard.

2. What internal conflict does Thomas experience when he uses vinegar on the lawn?
He feels he is betraying his progressive values by trying to evict creatures from a space he built. The act forces him to question whether his drive for comfort and control turns him into a destructive force. The dead grass becomes a physical symbol of his fear that he is failing the shared dream with David.

3. How does the chapter’s ending contrast with its earlier tension?
Throughout the chapter Thomas is frantic, sleep‑deprived, and angry at the frogs. After they leave, he and David share a peaceful dinner by the pond. Fireflies appear, and Thomas recalls the softness of the grass from their first visit. The quiet moment affirms that the garden—and their relationship—can still hold the promise of community, even when things go imperfectly.

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