The River Is Waiting: Chapter Two 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

The summer of 2005, Corby works on a landscaping crew at Olde Mistick Village in Connecticut. He meets Emily, who works at a bakery, and their playful banter begins with a joke about Mr. Coffee. Over the following weeks, Corby visits the bakery daily, buying the molasses cookies called Joe Froggers. He eventually asks Emily out, and they go to a clam shack and then a beach club where an R.E.M. cover band plays. During a moonlit walk on the beach, they share personal backgrounds: Emily is from a Republican military family, studying education at UCLA; Corby is an art student at RISD with a free-spirited mother. Their romance deepens, and they spend most of the remaining summer together. A dinner at Emily’s mother Betsy’s house ends poorly when Corby spills red wine on the tablecloth and Betsy criticizes his lack of ambition, comparing him to the grasshopper from Aesop’s fable. The chapter closes with Corby and Emily promising to maintain a long-distance relationship as they return to their respective schools on opposite coasts.

Key Events

Corby meets Emily at the bakery in Olde Mistick Village; they joke about Mr. Coffee.
Their first date: eating fried clams (whole bellies) at a clam shack, then going to the Andrea dance club and walking on the moonlit beach.
Emily reveals her family background: her father is more laid-back, her mother Betsy is Type A and Republican; Corby describes his mother as a free spirit but omits details like her Wiccan leanings.
Emily scolds Corby for not voting; she punches his arm and says she has work to do to straighten him out.
Their relationship intensifies over the rest of the summer; they go to the beach and make love whenever possible.
Corby meets Betsy at a Sunday dinner; he brings a thirty-dollar bottle of wine, but she barely drinks it. She quizzes him about his future plans and calls him a grasshopper (from Aesop’s Fables).
Corby accidentally spills wine on the white tablecloth, ruining it; Betsy’s reaction is cold.
At the end of August, Corby and Emily promise to keep in touch via calls and letters, with a plan to visit each other over school breaks.

Character Development

Corby emerges as an introspective, somewhat insecure young man. He is an art student at RISD, but his self-image is shaky—he sees himself as scrawny and feels awkward when Emily compliments him. His tendency to avoid planning for the future (he admits to being a “live-for-today” person) puts him at odds with Betsy’s practicality. His anger at her dismissal (“You’re very young, aren’t you?”) shows a defensive side.

Emily is witty, confident, and politically aware. She initiates the flirtation, teases Corby about his looks, and challenges him to vote. She stands up for him to her mother and dismisses the tablecloth incident as trivial. Her easy affection contrasts with her mother’s wariness.

Betsy is portrayed as controlling, proper, and class-conscious. She reads Jane Eyre, writes poetry, and sews quilts, but she judges Corby harshly. Her reference to the grasshopper and the ant sets up a potential obstacle for the relationship: she sees Corby as irresponsible.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The grasshopper and the ant: Betsy explicitly invokes Aesop’s fable, positioning Corby as the carefree grasshopper and herself (or Emily) as the industrious ant. This motif hints at deeper class and value differences between Corby’s free-spirited life and Betsy’s emphasis on hard work and security.
Joe Frogger cookies: The molasses cookies become a motif of connection. Corby buys one every day as an excuse to talk to Emily, and the cookie later symbolizes their playful, improvised romance.
Art vs. practicality: Corby’s identity as an artist is central; he sketches Emily nude, which Betsy fears could be posted online and ruin Emily’s teaching career. This tension between creative expression and careerist caution is a recurring concern.
Moonlight and water: The beach scene features a “just-past-full moon” illuminating the shore, creating a romantic but ephemeral setting. The incoming tide soaks their shoes and hoodie, foreshadowing how external forces may wash over their relationship.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Two establishes the emotional foundation of Corby and Emily’s relationship and introduces the first major obstacle: Betsy’s disapproval. The detailed courtship shows why Corby becomes so devoted—Emily is playful, intellectually curious, and physically affectionate. At the same time, the chapter plants seeds of future conflict: Corby’s insecurity, their different political outlooks, and Betsy’s judgmental presence. The long-distance arrangement set up at the end of the chapter also explains why Corby later feels compelled to drive cross-country in the present-day narrative (as referenced in Chapter One). This chapter humanizes Corby and makes his later desperation more understandable.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Corby’s reaction to Emily’s compliment about his appearance reveal his character? Emily tells Corby he has “broad shoulders,” “long lashes,” and a “cute butt.” Instead of accepting the praise, Corby dismisses it, privately noting his overbite and scrawny frame. This response shows his deep insecurity and habit of undervaluing himself, traits that may contribute to his later relationship struggles.

2. What does the “Mr. Coffee” exchange suggest about how Emily and Corby communicate? During their first meeting, Emily invents a joke about Mr. Coffee having a relationship with Mrs. Butterworth. Corby plays along, even though he is initially baffled. This exchange highlights their shared sense of humor and willingness to engage in playful, improvisational banter—a style that defines their early rapport. Emily’s deadpan delivery and Corby’s easy willingness to follow her lead show their natural chemistry.

3. Why does Betsy call Corby a “grasshopper,” and how does this reference foreshadow conflict? When Corby admits he does not plan his future and lives for today, Betsy compares him to Aesop’s grasshopper, who plays all summer while the ant stores food. She implies he is immature and irresponsible. This label foreshadows the ongoing tension between Corby’s artistic, present-focused mindset and Betsy’s values of practicality and financial security. It also sets the stage for Betsy to remain an adversarial figure in Corby and Emily’s relationship.