Chapter 3 Summary

The suburban community floods the Lisbon's house with flowers and sympathy notes, only to find through the delivery boy's account that the gifts are being ignored. The flowers litter the floor, left to die on their own. Mr. Lisbon either buries himself in his work as a teacher or immerses himself into televised baseball. The few fathers who went to the house report that they were indeed greeted by Mr. Lisbon, but that he would only discuss the baseball season, making it impossible to discuss the death of his last child. Father Moody, the Catholic priest, is brave enough to pay a visit to Mrs. Lisbon, who by then has all but retreated to her room. The reverent is unable to reach out to her and discuss the suicide. All he can do is notice the disturbing state of disarray that the house...