Chapter 22: Cliff — Summary, Themes, and Key Moments

⚠️ 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

Halloween is the biggest holiday in Copper Run, and the chapter opens with Cliff examining himself in Emily's mirror while wearing the Ghostface costume his daughter selected for him. He wistfully recalls the days when Emily made him a ghost or Batman costume, but Emily insists Ghostface is what's cool this season. Cliff is initially resistant, but Emily reveals a clever scheme: she told Brittany the costume comes from an old kids' show, so Brittany thinks it's funny rather than scary. Cliff, impressed by the deception, declares Emily ungrounded—though she points out she wasn't actually grounded; he was merely debating it.

Brittany bursts into the room wearing a homemade Steve Austin costume: a bald cap that looks like an overgrown mushroom, a drawn-on goatee, and a black vest made from bedsheets. Cliff plays along, pretending to be defeated by the “undefeated champion” in a wrestling match on Emily's bed. The family's playful dynamic is on full display.

Emily, ever perceptive, offers to talk to Michelle on Cliff's behalf, but he insists he can handle it himself. Brittany interrupts with a disposable camera that Michelle gave her, and Cliff gently reminds her to thank Michelle when they see her. Emily then takes a call from Josh, and Cliff gives her five minutes before threatening to scare her.

Downstairs, Carol arrives in her witch costume—the only costume she owns, she claims—and settles in to watch a slasher movie. Michelle enters through the kitchen door without a costume, and the two exchange playful banter. Cliff teases her about not dressing up, while Michelle deflects by saying she didn't want to take away from Brittany's costume. Their handshake lingers, and Cliff's internal narration reveals his unease around Michelle, referencing the near-moment at the bakery the day before that Josh interrupted.

Cliff uses the Ghostface voice on Josh's call, startling both Emily and Josh. Michelle stares at Cliff's lips, then fidgets with her mother's pendant—a gesture Cliff recognizes as a sign of nervousness. The group heads out for trick-or-treating, with Michelle following the family, and Cliff reflects that something scarier than ghosts awaits him tonight.

Key Events

Cliff wears the Ghostface costume Emily chose, and Emily reveals she told Brittany it's from an old kids' show, earning her ungrounding
Brittany arrives in a homemade Steve Austin costume, and the family plays a wrestling match where Steve Austin wins
Emily offers to mediate with Michelle; Cliff declines
Brittany shows the disposable camera Michelle gave her
Emily takes a call from Josh, and Cliff pranks him with the Ghostface voice
Carol arrives in her witch costume
Michelle arrives without a costume; the two share a lingering handshake
Michelle stares at Cliff's lips and fidgets with her mother's pendant
The group heads out for trick-or-treating

Character Development

Cliff — This chapter shows Cliff at his most vulnerable. His internal narration reveals how disoriented he feels around Michelle, and he admits he's plotted multiple ways to “kill” Josh for interrupting the near-moment at the bakery. His playfulness with his daughters shows a warm, engaged father, but his nervousness around Michelle reveals a man unaccustomed to romantic uncertainty. The Ghostface costume gives him a mask—literally—behind which he can be bolder, as when he pranks Josh.

Emily — She's perceptive and clever, both in her costume lie and in her offer to talk to Michelle on Cliff's behalf. She sees through her father's bluster and teases him about his feelings for Michelle. Her teenage romance with Josh is a light subplot.

Brittany — The six-year-old is the emotional center of the chapter. Her homemade costume, her camera, and her innocent questions bring the family together. Michelle's kindness toward her (tucking her hair back into the bald cap) is a key moment.

Michelle — She arrives without a costume, which is notable given the town's Halloween expectations. Her nervousness is revealed through the pendant fidgeting, and her lingering handshake with Cliff suggests mutual feelings. Her warmth toward Brittany shows a softer side.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Costumes and identity — The Ghostface mask is the most obvious symbol. Cliff is literally hiding behind a mask, and the costume allows him to be bolder (the prank on Josh). Michelle's refusal to dress up sets her apart from the town's traditions, reinforcing her outsider status. Brittany's homemade costume shows the family's creativity and closeness.

The pendant as a nervous symbol — Michelle fidgets with her mother's pendant when she's nervous, and Cliff recognizes this gesture. It's a small but telling detail that shows how well he's come to know her.

Interrupted intimacy — The chapter references the near-moment at the bakery that Josh interrupted. The lingering handshake and the lip-staring suggest the tension is still unresolved, and the chapter ends with the promise of more to come.

Small-town community culture — Halloween is described as the town's biggest holiday, with expectations that everyone participates. This creates a backdrop against which Michelle's non-costume stands out.

Father-daughter relationships — Cliff's interactions with both daughters show a loving, playful father. Emily's teasing about Michelle and her offer to help show she's growing up and aware of adult dynamics.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for the romantic subplot. The near-moment at the bakery is explicitly referenced, and the tension between Cliff and Michelle is now mutual and visible—the lingering handshake, the lip-staring, the pendant fidgeting. The Halloween setting provides a natural opportunity for characters to be more open, and the Ghostface costume gives Cliff a way to be bolder than he might otherwise be. The chapter also deepens the family dynamic, showing how Michelle fits into the Burke household through her kindness to Brittany.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does the Ghostface costume function as both a literal disguise and a metaphor for Cliff's emotional state?

The costume literally hides Cliff's face, allowing him to be bolder—he uses the Ghostface voice to prank Josh, something he might not do without the mask. Metaphorically, the costume represents Cliff's tendency to hide his vulnerability. He's nervous around Michelle but can't express it directly; the mask gives him a persona to hide behind. The chapter's final line—that something scarier than ghosts awaits him—suggests that his feelings for Michelle are the real source of fear.

2. What does Michelle's decision not to wear a costume reveal about her character at this point in the story?

Michelle's lack of a costume sets her apart from the town's Halloween traditions, reinforcing her status as an outsider from the city. But her response—that she didn't want to take away from Brittany's costume—shows her thoughtfulness and her growing connection to the family. The fact that she shows up at all, despite not dressing up, suggests she's becoming more integrated into the community, even if she's not fully embracing its customs yet.

3. How does the chapter use the Halloween setting to advance the romantic subplot between Cliff and Michelle?

Halloween provides a context where people can be more playful and less guarded. The Ghostface costume gives Cliff a reason to be bolder, and the trick-or-treating outing creates a natural setting for the family—and Michelle—to spend time together. The lingering handshake and the lip-staring happen in the casual chaos of Halloween preparations, making them feel both spontaneous and significant. The chapter ends with the group heading out together, suggesting that the romantic tension will continue to build in the following chapters.