Heroes: Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

In Albany, Francis finally comes face to face with Nicole in an empty classroom at her new parochial school. At first, both of them fail to recognize one another; Nicole has cut her hair, and Francis is still wearing his scarf and hat. For only the third time in the novel, Francis identifies himself.

Hesitantly, Nicole approaches Francis, maintaining a cordial distance. After she expresses concern over Francis’ wounds, he tries to reassure her with his now practiced lie that he will be going to Dr. Abrams’ clinic to have his face reconstructed. Not wanting to talk about the war, Francis quickly asks Nicole how she is doing.

The old softness gone from her voice, Nicole maintains that she is “fine.” After all, she says, she has new friends, and likes her new school where the nuns are less strict. After a pause, she apologizes to Francis for blaming him for her rape. She explains how she had gone to his house after sending him away that day on the veranda, only to find that he had already enlisted in the Army.

Joining Nicole to look out the classroom window at a tennis match, Francis tentatively asks if Nicole had heard the news of Larry’s suicide. Nicole replies that yes, she had already heard, and cuts off Francis as he goes to explain “what type of man” Larry was. Serious now, Nicole says that while Larry had made her and the other Wreck Center children feel special, however now, away from it all, she is beginning to discover who she really is.

Turning the tables, Nicole then asks Francis what his plans are now that the war is over. Again, ready with a practiced lie, Francis flatly responds that he plans to finish high school and attend college on the G.I. bill. After an awkward pause, Nicole finally asks Francis why he had really come to see her. Caught off guard, Francis replies that he had simply wanted to see her again, to check up on how she was doing. Again, Nicole cuts him off, growing angry. Silently, Francis admits that he had hoped to win her back, something that might change his mind about using the gun in his duffel bag on himself.

A back and forth ensues, with Nicole insisting she is “all right” and Francis pushing back, asking her if she had ever spoken to anyone about her trauma. This time Nicole is caught off guard, quickly recovering to explain that there had been nobody to tell: it would have broken her parents heart and there were “no visible wounds” to show the police. In the end, she says it had been easier just to run back to Albany, admitting that even if she wasn’t “all right” she was “adjusting.”

Sadly, Francis realizes that his presence probably brings back bad memories for Nicole, though she assures him that he had been and always would be part of her “good times.” Gently then, the two begin to innocently reminisce about their Frenchtown childhood together, with Francis eventually telling his old sweetheart sanitized war stories.

An awkward silence falls over the room again, broken when Nicole moves to touch Francis’ bandages, murmuring “your poor face.” Pulling away, Francis protests, saying he does not want Nicole to see his disfigurement. He promises to send her a picture when he gets his wounds “fixed up,” though neither one takes the promise very seriously. When he looks over and sees affection but not love in Nicole’s eyes, Francis knows with finality that he has lost his sweetheart — that he lost her long ago.

Trying to give Nicole one last gift, Francis stands to leave, and Nicole quickly adds that must return to class soon. As they part, she takes Francis’ hand, calling him “her table-tennis champion” and “her Silver Star hero.” Cynically but honestly, Francis responds that he no longer knows what a hero is.

As Nicole turns to leave at last, Francis asks if he can visit her again, hating himself for asking a question to which he knows the answer is no. As an answer, Nicole quickly turns around and kisses Francis over his scarf, saying “have a good life Francis, be whatever makes you happy.” With that, she departs, leaving Francis with the sound of footsteps fading into silence.