Chapter 9: The Grudge

Contains spoilers

Summary

  • Calvin claimed he held no grudges but is lying to himself; he hates one man deeply.
  • As a child at a boys home, Calvin saw a man exit a limousine, which was an uncommon event in Iowa.
  • The boys thought the man might be famous, but he only brought a briefcase. They lost interest when he didn't provide gifts like other visitors.
  • After the man’s visit, the home received educational supplies like textbooks and chemistry sets.
  • Calvin found that the pages on evolution were removed from the biology textbook. His curiosity was met with punishment from the priest.
  • Bishop chastised Calvin for allegedly lying about reading all the books in the home's collection. The bishop implies that Calvin was born good but became bad.
  • The bishop reveals that the recent supplies came in exchange for fundraising and criticizes Calvin's undisclosed biological father for it.
  • Calvin learns he was adopted and that the man in the limo, who is his biological father, didn’t reclaim him because he wasn’t interested after seeing his photo.
  • The bishop dismissively tells Calvin that his biological father did not want him and felt Calvin was better off at the boys home.
  • Calvin discovers he was born out of a tragic situation: his birth mother died, and his father couldn't cope.
  • The new educational supplies and cash were provided by Calvin’s biological father with specific conditions for improving education and sports.
  • Calvin hopes his biological father, supposedly a scientist, will return for him, but the bishop is non-committal.
  • Despite longing for his father, Calvin studies all the books sent by him, trying to understand their shared bond.
  • Calvin realizes that both his biological father and the science he loves have abandoned him, leading to his enduring grudge.
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