The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Chapters 12–14 Summary & Analysis

Summary: Part 2: Chapters 12–14

Chapter 12: Monkey Pants

Part 2 begins with Dodo who, after his fall, was taken to the Pennhurst State Hospital for the Insane and Feeble-Minded. Dodo is bunkmates with a boy suffering from cerebral palsy, though at the time, his condition was unnamed. In his head, Dodo begins to refer to the contorted, injured boy as Monkey Pants. Because Dodo arrived at Pennhurst severely injured and was then drugged upon arrival, he is declared an imbecile, put in a straitjacket, and brought to Ward C-1. Monkey Pants seeks to help Dodo and tries to teach the boy how to survive in Pennhurst, one of the country's worst mental institutions. Due to his condition, Monkey Pants has difficulty communicating verbally and Dodo obviously suffers from hearing loss. However, they reach a sort of telepathic, non-verbal understanding. They are both boys with incredible minds trapped in bodies that prevent them from sharing their intellects with the world. Dodo eventually understands Monkey Pants's lesson to play dumb in order to protect himself. When a group of men enter to observe the boy, Monkey Pants purposely soils himself to draw the attention away from Dodo, which Dodo recognizes as an act of kindness and compassion.

Chapter 13: Cowboy

Meanwhile, back in Pottstown, Moshe reflects on his old friend Malachi, who, adaptable as always, has opened a chicken farm in Poland. Though Moshe usually keeps his letters to Malachi cheerful, he writes to tell him that Chona is in a coma, Dodo has been taken away, and as Jews begin to seek American music instead of traditional Yiddish, the theater is struggling. Moshe reflects on the events of the previous night, when he had booked two bands for a dual date—Lionel Hampton as well as Mario Bauzá, Machito, and the Afro-Cubans. There had been a mix-up, and Moshe had gone over his booker's head to book both groups to perform. This led to a fight that evening over who would get to close the show. As he watches both groups perform and speaks to Mario Bauzá, the leader of the Afro-Cuban group, Moshe realizes that audiences no longer crave traditional, old music. They're excited about the new sounds emerging, like the Afro-Cuban style. This realization prompts Moshe to reflect to Malachi that the old ways are dying, and he might as well become a traditional American cowboy.

Malachi, sensing Moshe’s frustration, sends him a tiny pair of cowboy pants with a Star of David embroidered on them, lightening Moshe's mood and helping him think more clearly about his situation. He also decides to continue the joke by sending the pants back to Malachi elaborately wrapped. Inspired by his new energy, Moshe approaches Nate, hoping to find a way to help Dodo. However, unbeknownst to Moshe, the reader sees that Nate is enraged.

Chapter 14: Differing Weights and Measures

Fatty has just returned home after spending two weeks running his cousin Gene’s dry-cleaning store in Philadelphia, where he had the tooth knocked out by Big Soap replaced. Now, back at his jook joint, he finds Nate sitting alone, drinking. Nate’s demeanor is unsettling, and Fatty can’t help but worry about what Nate might do next. A few years prior, Fatty learned that Nate had once served time in prison—a stark contrast to his image in town as a devoted husband, hard worker, and caretaker for Dodo. In prison, Nate was feared by everyone, and his real name is actually Nate Love. Though he’s a good man at heart, he has a tendency to lose control at times. Concerned, Fatty decides to close the joint early. As he approaches Nate’s table, Fatty sees genuine rage in Nate's eyes. Nate mutters something under his breath to Fatty and Rusty, making the two men uneasy: “Differing weights mean differing measures.” Fatty and Rusty, puzzled by the cryptic statement, take Nate home, reflecting on his words. They come to the conclusion that the message is clear: they need to break Dodo out of the institution.

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