Walk Two Moons: Chapter 39 Summary & Analysis

Phoebe calls Sal in the morning and begs her to come over. She says she needs a witness, and she hasn’t told Mr. Winterbottom what she saw. Phoebe says that Mr. Winterbottom and Prudence have been cleaning the house since last night—and this morning, her father decided to mess some things up so Mrs. Winterbottom won’t think the family can function without her. Sal doesn’t want to go over, but she feels bad for running away yesterday, so she agrees.

Sal finds Mr. Winterbottom, Phoebe, and Prudence sitting around, doing nothing. Mr. Winterbottom is a nervous wreck; he jumps up and sits down, and he changes his shirt twice. Finally, a taxi pulls up. Mr. Winterbottom runs to the kitchen, and Phoebe follows. Sal follows Phoebe, and Prudence goes to answer the door. From the kitchen, they hear Mrs. Winterbottom introduce Prudence to Mike. Mr. Winterbottom goes red and tells Phoebe she shouldn’t be around for this, but he allows the girls to follow him into the living room.

Phoebe almost faints for two reasons. Mrs. Winterbottom now has short hair and is stylish, with makeup and earrings. And second, Mike Bickle is standing in the living room. Sal briefly wonders if Mike did kidnap Mrs. Winterbottom, but she remembers how happy Mrs. Winterbottom looked yesterday. For that matter, Mrs. Winterbottom doesn’t look afraid of Mike—she looks afraid of Mr. Winterbottom. Sal can tell Phoebe’s heart is breaking as Mrs. Winterbottom hugs Phoebe. Then, Mr. Winterbottom asks his wife to explain. He doesn’t hug her back when she puts her arms around him, and Sal wonders if Mrs. Winterbottom is really in love with Mike. He seems way too young.

Mrs. Winterbottom sits down and starts to cry. She says things that don’t make sense about being respectable, about Mr. Winterbottom not forgiving her, and she says she has a secret that Mr. Winterbottom might not forgive her for. Finally, Mrs. Winterbottom says that Mike is her son. She had him before she met Mr. Winterbottom and had to give him up for adoption. Now, she knows Mr. Winterbottom won’t think she’s “respectable.” Mr. Winterbottom swears as Mrs. Winterbottom explains that Mike found her. At first, she was frightened, but she and Mike have been talking. Mr. Winterbottom interrupts to ask if she’s going to leave again. Mrs. Winterbottom flinches but says she’ll only leave if Mr. Winterbottom wants her to—she’s “unrespectable.”

Mr. Winterbottom says he’s not worried about respectability; it concerns him more that Mrs. Winterbottom didn’t feel like she could tell him anything about this. Mike gets up and says he knew this wouldn’t work, but Mr. Winterbottom says he has nothing against Mike. He just doesn’t know Mike, or his wife.

Sal wishes she weren’t here, and she feels sad for Phoebe’s family and for herself. Mr. Winterbottom says they all need to sit down and talk. Then, he shakes Mike’s hand and says he’s always thought a son would be nice. Sal suggests she leave, and Mrs. Winterbottom asks Phoebe if she’s angry. Phoebe says she is and drags Sal to the door. The girls step outside just as Mrs. Partridge sets an envelope down on the stoop.