Chapters 32 through 35 Summary and Analysis

At twenty-eight, Piri leaves his cell for the last time. He notes it is almost like leaving home, but then shudders at the thought of prison as "home." Several fellow cons are waiting near the gate to say good-bye and the chaplain offers last words of encouragement. The moment he is released, he is arrested on the old charges of robbery. The two officers are understanding, stop for food and allow Piri to eat without handcuffs, and drive him on to jail by way of Spanish Harlem.

Piri is put in a cell with a kid Piri only calls "Chico," meaning "boy." The kid shot an officer and is shot himself and Piri considers the similarities between his own case and what this boy is facing. Piri goes for his first court appearance where the judge assigns a high...