Chapter summaries Incidents Around the House Josh Malerman

Incidents Around the House – Chapter 23 Summary & 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

Daddo spots Grandma Ruth standing in the woods behind the house and asks Bela why she did not tell him she felt the entity—referred to as “she”—was near. Bela admits she sensed the presence behind a tree. Anxious, Daddo calls the police to report a possible intruder. Bela describes the intruder as having dark hair on the backs of her arms. While Daddo is on the phone, Grandma’s closet opens, startling Bela, but it is only the dog Milky sniffing inside. Daddo rushes Bela out of the bedroom. Grandma enters through the side door. She investigates the bedroom, finds nothing, and then urges Daddo to contact someone more knowledgeable than the police, insisting that even a seemingly pointless or crazy path is worth taking for safety.

Key Events

  • Daddo questions Bela about why she concealed her sense that “she” (the entity) was near the house.
  • Bela clarifies the entity was hiding behind a Loblolly Pine tree.
  • Daddo telephones the police, reporting a possible intruder but unable to provide a good description.
  • Bela, prompted by Daddo, says the intruder has dark hair on the backs of her arms.
  • Grandma’s closet door opens; Bela shouts “Go away!” but it is only Milky the dog.
  • Daddo quickly moves Bela out of Grandma’s bedroom and into the hall.
  • Grandma returns through the side door and is told about the closet incident.
  • Milky barks from inside the bedroom; Daddo warns Grandma not to go in, but she enters anyway.
  • Grandma emerges holding Milky and reports “Nothing.”
  • Daddo mentions the police’s advice, but Grandma cuts him off and recommends consulting someone who understands supernatural matters, even if it seems irrational.

Character Development

  • Bela: Demonstrates heightened sensitivity to the entity’s location (behind a tree) and, when pressed, offers a disturbing physical description (dark arm hair). She also shows fear when the closet opens, but recovers when she realizes it is only Milky.
  • Daddo: His anxiety escalates throughout the chapter. He struggles to manage the situation alone, first relying on the police and then being overruled by Grandma. His protective instinct is evident when he physically moves Bela away from the bedroom.
  • Grandma Ruth: Remains pragmatic and fearless. She ignores Daddo’s warning and enters the bedroom alone. After finding nothing, she asserts her authority by discarding the police’s capabilities and advocating for a specialist—showing she is willing to embrace unconventional means to safeguard the family.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Unseen Threat: The entity is consistently referred to as “she” but never directly seen inside the house. Its presence is felt behind a tree, in a closet, and through Bela’s perceptions—underscoring the theme of invisible danger.
  • Rational vs. Irrational Responses: Daddo turns to the police, a rational authority, but Grandma urges him to seek someone who “knows more about these matters,” acknowledging that normal channels may be useless against the supernatural.
  • Smallness and Vulnerability: Bela observes Grandma looking “small out there” among the tall pines, and wonders if she herself is equally small. The image suggests the family’s insignificance in the face of a larger, malevolent force.
  • The Closet as a Gateway: The closet opening without explanation ties into earlier incidents (notably the entity’s ability to move objects or cause doors to open). Here the dog defuses the tension, but the possibility that the closet was a trap remains.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 23 marks a turning point in the family’s response to the haunting. Daddo’s attempt to involve law enforcement fails to provide answers or protection. Grandma’s insistence on contacting a specialist—even if the idea seems “crazy”—legitimizes the paranormal dimension of the story. Bela’s description of the intruder (dark hair on the arms) offers a concrete detail that may later prove significant. The chapter deepens the tension between the ordinary safety measures (locked doors, police calls) and the extraordinary measures that the situation demands, setting the stage for a shift away from conventional help.

Study Questions & Answers

  1. What reason does Daddo give for calling the police?
    Daddo reports a possible intruder in the woods behind the house. He is unable to provide a clear description, relying on Bela’s input that the person has dark hair on the backs of her arms.

  2. How does Grandma react when Daddo tries to stop her from entering her bedroom?
    Grandma says “Nobody’s taking over my house” and proceeds into the bedroom despite Daddo’s warning. After checking the room and finding nothing, she emerges carrying Milky and calmly says “Nothing.”

  3. What advice does Grandma give Daddo at the end of the chapter, and why is it significant?
    She tells him to “call someone who knows more about these matters than the police do” even if it seems crazy or pointless. The advice is significant because it acknowledges that supernatural threats require expertise beyond standard law enforcement, and it foreshadows the family’s future decision to seek help from a non-traditional source.

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