Chapter 34 Summary

The day after Big Moe surrenders, the pushcarts return to the streets. Many people come out to buy from them, especially housewives who have missed their special kind of service. While on Bleecker Street buying fruits and vegetables, a group of women see a truck coming. One woman grabs a melon and throws it at the truck. Other women join in, and soon there are melons and pears and lettuce flying all over the street. Even the local fish vendor joins in, throwing fish at the trucks. When the police come, instead of arresting anyone, they join in the battle. The whole thing becomes a huge celebration and is forever known as the Feast of the Cantaloupes.

Chapter 34 Analysis

There is one last fight against the trucks, led by frustrated housewives who were deprived of their friendly pushcart vendors at the end of...