Chapter summaries Incidents Around the House Josh Malerman

Chapter 28: Flight to Frank’s House and the Growing Threat of Other Mommy

⚠️ 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 family arrives at Frank’s house—the man who had held Mommy’s hand at the party and later died in his own closet. Grandma tries to reassure Bela that ordinary life will return. Inside, Daddo is hostile and refuses to sleep; tensions with Grandma and Mommy rise. Bela reflects on her ability to sense Other Mommy through creaks, smells (like a rotting mouse), and a feeling of presence. She initially says she doesn’t think Other Mommy is there, but later, after Daddo and Mommy argue about staying, Bela screams that she is in the house. Grandma immediately orders everyone out. They flee to the car, and Bela is terrified that Other Mommy will give another present unless Bela says yes to entering her heart. The chapter ends with the family driving away, Bela staring into the darkness.

Key Events

  • The family enters Frank’s dark house; Mommy unlocks the door and leads the way.
  • They turn on all the lights on the first floor to combat the darkness.
  • Daddo questions if someone from Frank’s family might stop by; Mommy dismisses the concern.
  • Daddo directly asks Bela if Other Mommy is present, prompting a family discussion about sensing her.
  • Bela describes how she can detect Other Mommy: creaking sounds, a distinct smell, and an intuitive awareness.
  • Bela reveals what the man at Lois’s house told her: Other Mommy said she gave Bela a present.
  • Daddo and Mommy argue loudly; Grandma tries to mediate, insisting everyone needs sleep.
  • Bela hears creaking upstairs and yells that Other Mommy is in the house.
  • The family rushes out to the car and drives away without looking back.
  • Bela internalizes her fear that saying yes to Other Mommy will stop the torment but also cost her everything.

Character Development

  • Bela becomes more self-aware about her supernatural intuition. She connects her past bedtime fears (watching the closet doors) to the presence of Other Mommy. Her fear of her parents divorcing grows, and she begins to suspect that Other Mommy’s “presents” (like the death of Frank) are manipulations designed to compel her agreement.
  • Daddo (Russ) shows raw frustration and grief. His disbelief that he must stay in the house where a man died contrasts with his earlier openness. He accuses Mommy of being in love with Frank and nearly breaks down, revealing his deep emotional strain.
  • Mommy (Ursula) is described as “hysterical,” crying uncontrollably and unable to process the events. She wipes tears with her sleeve and sounds desperate, showing her mental state deteriorating.
  • Grandma (Ruth) maintains a practical, almost stern composure. She insists on sleep, order, and safety, but even she is shaken when Bela announces Other Mommy’s presence. Her command to leave is immediate and decisive.
  • Other Mommy remains an off-page but deeply felt antagonist. The chapter reinforces her ability to harm others (Frank’s death) and her patient, predatory approach toward Bela.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Closet as a Threshold: Bela’s first encounter with Other Mommy was in a closet; now Frank died in a closet. The closet symbolizes an entrance point for the entity and a site of violation and death.
  • Light vs. Darkness: The family desperately turns on every light in the house, yet the upstairs remains “closet-dark.” Light provides temporary safety but cannot dispel the deeper threat.
  • The “Present”: Other Mommy’s gifts are lethal. Bela fears that accepting the next present (entering her heart) will make her complicit in future harm. The motif of a gift as a trap recurs.
  • Family Fracture: The argument between Daddo, Mommy, and Grandma shows how supernatural horror strains familial bonds. Bela’s fear of divorce mirrors the literal division the entity seeks to create.
  • Hearing and Not Hearing: Bela repeatedly tries to alert the adults, but they do not hear her until she screams. This reflects how children’s voices are often ignored until it is almost too late.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 28 marks a turning point: the family abandons their home for Frank’s, only to be driven out again within hours. It confirms that Other Mommy can track them and that her influence extends beyond the closet in Bela’s room. Bela’s growing awareness of her own psychic link to the entity—and her suspicion that she knows how to end the crisis—raises the stakes. The chapter also deepens the marital conflict, suggesting that the family may splinter before the entity is defeated. Bela’s final thought (“I’m scared I’m gonna say yes”) sets up the central moral dilemma of the remaining story.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Question: How does Bela describe her ability to sense Other Mommy in this chapter?
    Answer: Bela explains that she can sometimes smell Other Mommy (like a rotting mouse), hear creaking sounds that signal her presence, and simply “know” she is there. She connects this to earlier nights when she watched the closet doors without understanding why.

  2. Question: What does Daddo learn from Bela about the man at Lois’s house, and how does this affect his reaction?
    Answer: Bela tells Daddo that the man said Other Mommy gave her a present. This revelation shocks Daddo, making him realize that the entity is directly responsible for Frank’s death. He becomes more panicked and insists they cannot stay, escalating the argument with Mommy.

  3. Question: Why does Bela ultimately scream that Other Mommy is in the house, and what immediate consequence does this have?
    Answer: Bela screams after hearing a creak upstairs and feeling that the adults are not listening to her. Her declaration forces Grandma to order an immediate evacuation. The family flees to the car, and Bela stares into the dark, too scared to look back.

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