Chapter 79 Summary

Christopher returns home after canvassing the neighborhood. Father wants to know where he has been. He says that he has just had a call from Mrs. Shears, and he goes ballistic. Christopher tells him that he believes that Mr. Shears killed Wellington, which results in Father slamming his fists down on the table. This creates another dilemma for Christopher. When the table responds to the blow, all of the food on Christopher’s plate slides around so that the ham is touching the broccoli. Now, of course, he can’t eat any more of those two items. The baked beans, however, seem to have survived the quake in more-or-less pristine condition.

Christopher’s mention of Mr. Shears as his prime suspect causes Father to erupt, shouting, “I will not have that man’s name mentioned in this house.” When Christopher asks why, Father...