Summary

Chapter 9, “Apple Apple”

This chapter is from Ezra’s point of view. It is now 1979, and Ezra is struggling with depression and loneliness. He finds a lump on his thigh, and though he immediately assumes it is cancer, he doesn’t go to the doctor to deal with it. The restaurant isn’t doing very well, and there’s a heat wave on.

Pearl and Ezra have settled into a routine that doesn’t change. Pearl has no friends or visitors, and Ezra’s only friends are people he works with at the restaurant. Pearl does not accept the reality of her blindness. Their favorite activity is to look over Pearl’s family photos and mementos.

When Jenny visits, it’s like a whirlwind of children and competence. Pearl criticizes Jenny for her appearance and her too-big family, but Jenny seems to be happy, and...