The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Chapters 28 & 29 Summary & Analysis

Summary: Chapters 28 & 29

Chapter 28: The Last Love

For many years, Nate worked for Anna Morse, the owner of Morse's Funeral Home. He was a loyal worker to her, so when he asks for a ride to Linfield, an area near Hemlock Row, she happily agrees. Hemlock Row is very close to Pennhurst and Anna assumes that he must be going there to visit Dodo. While Nate is with Anna, he helps her out with some repairs she needs done on her house.

Later that evening, he is supposed to meet up with Miggy, who has agreed to take him to Bullis, the Egg Man. Nate fears that when he gets to Hemlock Row he may be recognized, which could lead to trouble and derail the mission. The narrative shifts to Miggy, who is anxiously awaiting Nate's arrival. Nate is late by several hours and although she asks Bullis to wait, he says he needs to start his deliveries. He leaves with his cart and horse to pick up the eggs, and notes that his horse, Titus, seems to be exhausted and struggling to move forward. Bullis finally arrives at Ward C-1, where Son of Man answers the door.

Bullis immediately senses that something is wrong. Son of Man mentions that he observed Miggy packing what seemed to be a bag for a boy, and he accuses Bullis of being a part of the escape plan. Bullis argues back, but Son of Man attacks him, stopping only when Nate emerges from Bullis's cart. Readers catch a quick glimpse into Nate's childhood, as he reflects on his abusive father. As a boy, Nate killed his own father after he beat Nate's mother with a pipe. Nate had then gone down a dark path and started beating people up for money, which eventually landed him in jail. He had grown hardened by that point in his life, but meeting Addie filled his life with love instead. He worries that if he carries forward with his plan, that love and gentleness will be lost. Still, he stabs Son of Man in the chest and demands Bullis take him up to the ward.

Chapter 29: Waiting for the Future

Back in Pottstown, townspeople are preparing for the Memorial Day celebrations while Gus is threatened by one of Nig Rosen's men, Henry Lit. Later, Hal Leopold, the parade's director, frets over the state of the costumes. He commiserates with Gus and Doc, who arrive wearing red coats, suggesting they are British, instead of the blue American uniforms. The men briefly reflect that the town's Jews that usually participate are not present, yet none of them seem to dwell on the fact that the costumes and paraphernalia used for the parade are mended, cared for, and stored by Pottstown's Jews for free. Gus is able to secure a blue coat to replace the red one and offers it to Doc, but "in a decision that would alter forever his already fraught, twisted, small-town American life,” Doc declines and chooses to don the red coat instead. Later, after the parade, Gus goes home while Doc, still dressed in his red coat, enjoys a few beers with other locals.

Meanwhile, Fatty and Big Soap begin digging to find the water pipes. To their dismay, Rusty, who agreed to help them cover up any damage, has not shown up. Fatty notices that the pipes have already been tampered with and notes that the pipe that supplies water to the Clover Dairy is connected to the city water supply instead of the well, where it's supposed to be getting water from. Essentially, they are getting their water from the city for free. Fatty ignores his discovery and continues the job. The job is difficult, and at one point they flood the well and water levels rise to their necks, but they're able to stop the flood and connect the shul's water supply to the city's new reservoir. However, Rusty has still not arrived, and because Fatty and Soap damaged the manhole cover, they quickly leave to find materials for the cover-up job.

Back at the parade celebration, Doc is drunk and begins rambling about Chona, still angry that someone he views as beneath him would dare to reject him. As Doc vents, the other men suggest he return home. Doc begins to stumble home and decides to walk through the Hill to get there. As he walks, he realizes that he still has the mezuzah from Chona's neck in his pocket. Meanwhile, Henry Lit is on the prowl for Gus. He spies Doc in a red coat limping and wrongly assumes that the man is Gus. Henry knocks Doc out, breaking his jaw and causing him to fall to the floor. As Doc collapses, Henry hears a splash. He is mildly confused but does not question the noise, leaving Doc behind. Presumably, Doc has fallen into the well while Fatty and Soap are off finding materials to replace the manhole cover. Later, after Gus has repaid his debt to Rosen, Henry expresses confusion that Gus did not have a broken jaw.

Fatty and Soap finally return and replace the well's cover, never noticing the body nor the mezuzah floating in the water. They finish the job and depart.

Read an analysis of an important quote from this chapter about American mythology.