Summary

Russo and Barbara prepared for Emily’s wedding coming up in September. He began writing a new memoir that included two weddings—a more positive story than his last one. For the first time in their lives, Russo and Barbara were able to travel together. They decided to get an apartment in Boston to stay in during the winters.

Russo goes back in time to describe Kate’s wedding. After the wedding, Russo’s friend Nat Sobel had talked to Greg, Russo’s cousin, about growing up near a tannery. Greg detailed the miseries of dealing with the heavy wet hides, reactions to chemicals, and smells. As he listened to Greg’s stories, Russo got the feeling of being in the tannery and working there himself as a young man–even though he had never done such work. Because he had such...