Chapter 14, Farewell Summary and Analysis

While Bill was growing up, his father would call the family together every so often to see how everyone felt about possibly moving to a big league city. Bill was always for moving, but it never occurred. Now, Bill is glad that they didn't move as he got to spend his formative years in a good, positive city.

The Des Moines that Bill remembers is, in many cases, no longer there. Greenwood Elementary is still there, but the gym and auditorium are gone. Dahl's supermarket is also still there, but the Kiddie Corral and the grocery conveyor tunnel are gone. The downtown stores closed one by one.

People also changed and moved on. Bill's father died in 1986. His mother eventually sold the house and moved to an apartment. Doug Willoughby lives in the Midwest and it's been years since...