Summary

Chapter 36

Ed is expending all his time and energy scraping off the varnish off the brick floor in the kitchen. Eileen offers to bring a contractor in but Ed insists that he’s doing fine. She is tired of living out of boxes and wants to get the floor done. He grabs her and warns her not to bring anyone in to finish the job. It is his job.

Chapter 37

The family goes on a vacation to Cooperstown. It was Ed’s idea and it is all for Connell’s benefit. They had a dispute earlier in the day. Ed told Eileen about it but wasn’t specific. She asks Connell what had been said. He had told his father that he had bad breath. Ed said “thanks” and retired to the bathroom for an hour brushing his teeth.

At Ed’s request...