Al Capone Does My Shirts: Chapter 39: The Warden Summary & Analysis

It’s been a week since Moose wrote the letter to Al Capone. Things are better at his house, but Mom and Dad are discussing what to do next. Moose isn’t certain if he wants to go back to Santa Monica, and he knows returning won’t be good for Natalie. Due to this uncertainty, Moose isn’t sure if he’s saying goodbye to his classmates for the summer or forever on the last day of school. He feels awful—until he gets off the boat and sees his parents, Theresa, Natalie, and the warden. Piper doesn’t know what’s going on either, but she seems anxious. Theresa shares the news: the Esther P. Marinoff accepted Natalie. Moose hugs Natalie.

Dad explains that Mr. Purdy called and said he’s opening a new wing for older students, like Natalie. He insisted he’d been planning this for a while, though they don’t know why he didn’t say something earlier. The warden tells Moose that he (the warden) was right: Moose’s parents would figure it out. He then compliments Piper on her grades. Once the warden and Piper head up the hill, Dad asks if Moose knows anything about this. Moose cuts him off saying he doesn’t, and Dad observes that no one knows what will happen until they “play the game.”