Chapter 28 (Chapter 27) 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
After dinner, Millie checks on Nico in his room. He is reading a comic book, avoiding conversation. His eye is bruised from the fight at school. He claims he is fine but seems withdrawn. Millie notices that Little Kiwi, the praying mantis, is missing. Nico explains the insect died during molting and he flushed it down the toilet, which unsettles Millie. She suggests arranging a playdate with Spencer to keep Nico socially engaged during his suspension. Later, Millie finds Enzo searching their nightstand drawer for fifty dollars that has gone missing. Enzo hints that Millie might falsely accuse Martha again, a reference to her earlier unfounded accusation. Millie tries to discuss Nico’s punishment with Enzo, but Enzo defends their son’s actions—he sees the fight as standing up for a girl against a bully. Enzo admits he fought often as a child. Millie recalls that Enzo fled Italy after beating his brother-in-law nearly to death for killing his sister. The conversation leaves Millie questioning how much she truly knows about her husband’s past and his capacity for violence.
Key Events
- Millie visits Nico after dinner; he is distant and his eye is black-and-blue.
- Nico reveals that Little Kiwi died during molting and he flushed the insect.
- Millie suggests a playdate with Spencer to help Nico cope with suspension.
- Enzo discovers fifty dollars missing from the nightstand drawer.
- Enzo implies Millie might wrongly accuse their housekeeper Martha again.
- Millie and Enzo argue about Nico’s suspension: Enzo dismisses it as normal boy behavior.
- Enzo admits he fought as a child; Millie remembers he fled Italy after a violent revenge attack.
- Millie begins to question Enzo’s past and his true nature.
Character Development
- Millie: Growing distrust toward Enzo; she feels uneasy about Nico’s changes and Enzo’s casual attitude toward violence. She also shows concern for Nico’s emotional well-being, though she struggles to connect with him.
- Nico: Withdrawn and secretive after the incident; his dismissal of Little Kiwi’s death seems cold and out of character, hinting at deeper distress.
- Enzo: Dismissive of the school’s reaction; he romanticizes fighting as a masculine virtue. His past violence is now directly linked to his defense of Nico’s actions, raising questions about his influence.
- Martha: Though not present, she remains a figure of suspicion; the missing money episode echoes earlier tensions.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The cycle of violence: Enzo’s past revenge killing and his approval of Nico’s fighting suggest a pattern where violence is normalized as a response to injustice.
- Secrets and trust: The missing money and Enzo’s hidden history underscore the theme that appearances cannot be trusted. Millie’s internal doubts grow.
- Parental conflict: Millie and Enzo’s disagreement over discipline reflects broader differences in values and each partner’s willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
- Death and disposal: Little Kiwi’s unceremonious flushing symbolizes how moments of loss or change are handled within the family—quickly and without proper acknowledgment.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the psychological tension of the novel by directly linking Enzo’s past violence to his current parenting philosophy. Millie’s growing unease about her husband becomes a central conflict, while Nico’s behavior grows more troubling. The missing money subplot adds domestic suspicion and threatens to destabilize the household further. The chapter forces readers to question who in the family is truly safe and who might be hiding a dangerous nature.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Millie’s reaction to Little Kiwi’s death reveal her emotional state?
Millie is disturbed that Nico flushed the pet without ceremony, but her reaction is complicated because she despised the insect. The incident shows her inability to read Nico’s feelings and her own suppressed unease about how death and loss are handled in the family.
2. What does Enzo’s attitude toward Nico’s suspension suggest about his past?
Enzo dismisses the suspension as trivial and smiles at the idea of Nico breaking a bully’s nose. This aligns with his admission that he fought as a child and with the fact that he once beat a man nearly to death. It suggests he sees violence as a valid tool for justice, a mindset he may be passing on.
3. Why does the missing fifty dollars matter to the plot at this stage?
The missing money reintroduces Martha as a potential threat and also hints at financial stress or dishonesty in the household. It adds a layer of paranoia for Millie and could foreshadow larger betrayals, especially given Enzo’s vague response about possibly taking the money himself.