Chapter 137 Summary

The next day, Saturday, Father apologizes to Christopher for hitting him and takes him to the zoo for an outing. At the zoo, Christopher’s favorite animals are the red-faced spider monkeys, the Patagonian sea lions and Maliku, an orangutan who fashioned his own hammock from leaves and branches. After visiting the animals, he and Father have lunch, and Father apologizes again for getting angry. He says that he did it because he worries so about Christopher, and he asks if Christopher understands that. Christopher says that he doesn’t, but he responds in the positive when Father asks if Christopher knows that loves him.

Chapter 137 Analysis

Readers gain two insights here, one into Father and the other into Christopher. This chapter brings out the frustration, anger, grief and remorse that are a part of the cycle caregivers go through when dealing with...