Summary

Chapter 17 is from Mort's perspective. Mort quickly realizes that babies are basically the same, regardless of their gender, with the exception of “future potential” (70). He sometimes takes Teddy to the park where he hopes the infant is retaining some information about baseball. Mort likes that he can control every aspect of Teddy's life, feeling that his “future was too important to be left to chance” (72).

Chapter 18 is from Abe's perspective. He is worried and amazed when Natalie begins sleeping through the night from the beginning. Abe does not know how to act with Natalie and considers that this may be that Mort was never involved with his daughters because he did not know how. Abe promises to be an important part of Natalie's life.

Chapter 19, from Helen's perspective, is dated September 1948. She knows that Rose is depressed, and is getting worse. Helen spent...