Chapter 63 Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes
⚠️ 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
Inspired by Bowen's refusal to accept defeat in finding Dad a job, the narrator decides to take action. On Friday morning before school, the narrator rummages through the garage. Mom has already packed carry-on suitcases for her upcoming trip to New York, having passed her second interview. The narrator hopes to find something of Grandma Francine's to trade for Mom's earrings, perhaps another pair of earrings that look expensive but aren't rubies. Instead, the narrator discovers Dad's sealed box of old face masks from the SARS era, labeled with a Sharpie. Excited, the narrator calls Bowen and Lea to come quickly.
After school, the siblings bring three boxes of masks to the Taradippins' house. Lea is hesitant, holding a box and blowing dust off it, glancing at wildflowers in her bike basket, wanting to get back to Mom. The narrator tells her to follow the lead. They ring the doorbell, which sounds like a cowbell. Max's brother answers with a beer, and inside Max is throwing confetti, celebrating because sales are booming. The TV blasts news of the second confirmed case of local community spread. The narrator is disgusted that they are cheering on a virus.
The narrator offers the SARS masks, explaining they protected Dad during SARS. Bowen shows a photo of Dad from that time, AirDropped from Mom's phone. Max is fascinated, imagining selling them on eBay for hundreds of dollars. The narrator asks for Mom's earrings in exchange, offering all three boxes. Max and his brother discuss privately, then agree. They hand back the velvet box with the earrings. The siblings cheer, and Bowen checks the earrings sparkle.
The narrator then spots hand sanitizer bottles stacked along the wall and asks for one for a teacher. Max refuses, saying they sell for seventy-five dollars each online. The narrator asks who can afford that, and Max replies 'Rich people!' before closing the door.
Key Events
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The narrator searches the garage and finds Dad's SARS masks.
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Mom has packed for her New York trip after passing a second interview.
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The siblings bring three boxes of masks to the Taradippins' house.
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The Taradippins are celebrating the second local COVID case and booming sales.
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The narrator offers the masks, showing a photo of Dad during SARS.
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A trade is agreed: the masks for Mom's earrings.
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The narrator requests hand sanitizer for a teacher, but Max refuses, citing a $75 price.
Character Development
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The narrator shows resourcefulness and courage, taking initiative inspired by Bowen's persistence. The narrator devises a plan, executes it, and even makes a second request for a teacher, demonstrating empathy and a willingness to push boundaries.
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Lea displays concern for Mom, hesitating to leave her, but ultimately follows the narrator's lead, showing trust and teamwork.
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Bowen supports the plan by showing the SARS photo and verifying the earrings, reinforcing his role as a reliable ally.
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Max and his brother embody greed and profiteering, celebrating a virus that harms others and valuing profit over human need. Their refusal to part with hand sanitizer highlights their callousness.
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The narrator's empathy for a teacher contrasts sharply with Max's greed, underscoring the moral divide between the characters.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Profiteering and greed vs. need: Max sells masks and sanitizer at inflated prices, while the narrator seeks to help a teacher, illustrating the tension between profit and compassion.
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Bartering and resourcefulness: The narrator trades historical relics (SARS masks) for a family heirloom, showing creative problem-solving.
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Family heirlooms and sacrifice: The earrings hold sentimental value, and the narrator is willing to part with valuable items to recover them.
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Economic disparity: The $75 price for hand sanitizer is unaffordable for many, highlighting inequality during the pandemic.
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Scarcity and historical relics: The SARS masks become valuable due to their history, turning ordinary objects into commodities.
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Community spread and celebration of virus: The Taradippins celebrate the second COVID case, revealing a disturbing lack of empathy.
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Empathy and courage: The narrator's request for hand sanitizer for a teacher shows moral courage despite rejection.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a turning point for the narrator, who moves from passive worry to active problem-solving. The successful trade for the earrings demonstrates the power of resourcefulness and teamwork, while the refusal of hand sanitizer exposes the harsh realities of economic disparity and profiteering. The contrast between the narrator's empathy and the Taradippins' greed deepens the novel's moral themes and sets up potential future conflicts, as the narrator now understands the lengths some will go to for profit.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does the narrator search the garage?
The narrator is inspired by Bowen's persistence in finding Dad a job and hopes to find something to trade for Mom's earrings, which were taken by the Taradippins. 2. How do the Taradippins react to the SARS masks?
They see them as valuable collectibles, imagining they could sell them on eBay for hundreds of dollars, and agree to trade them for the earrings. 3. What does the narrator's request for hand sanitizer reveal?
It reveals the narrator's empathy for a teacher and awareness of economic disparity, as the $75 price is unaffordable for most people.