Summary

Chapter 91

Connell goes alone to visit Ed after Thanksgiving 1998. It takes him a few stops and starts before he enters the room. He sits with him for a while then wheels him down to the lunchroom. Connell notices that the screams of the men have no impact on Ed while the screams of the women make him tremble. Connell would not be coming home for Christmas. His mother didn’t know it yet. He plans to stay away so that she is forced to accept other invitations. Connell gives Ed an early Christmas gift – a Mozart CD. Ed enjoys the music and even claps along. During Mozart’s fortieth, Ed smiles widely then dissolves into sobs. When the anger sets in, Connell knows it’s time for him to leave.

Chapter 92

For weeks before Ed died, Eileen sees that he is failing. There...