Chapter 9: The Grudge

Summary

• Calvin claimed he held no grudges but is lying to himself; he hates one man deeply.
• As a child at a boys home, Calvin saw a man exit a limousine, which was an uncommon event in Iowa.
• The boys thought the man might be famous, but he only brought a briefcase. They lost interest when he didn't provide gifts like other visitors.
• After the man’s visit, the home received educational supplies like textbooks and chemistry sets.
• Calvin found that the pages on evolution were removed from the biology textbook. His curiosity was met with punishment from the priest.
• Bishop chastised Calvin for allegedly lying about reading all the books in the home's collection. The bishop implies that Calvin was born good but became bad.
• The bishop reveals that the recent supplies came in exchange for fundraising and criticizes Calvin's undisclosed biological father for it.
• Calvin learns he was adopted and that the man in the limo, who is his biological father, didn’t reclaim him because he wasn’t interested after seeing his photo.
• The bishop dismissively tells Calvin that his biological father did not want him and felt Calvin was better off at the boys home.
• Calvin discovers he was born out of a tragic situation: his birth mother died, and his father couldn't cope.
• The new educational supplies and cash were provided by Calvin’s biological father with specific conditions for improving education and sports.
• Calvin hopes his biological father, supposedly a scientist, will return for him, but the bishop is non-committal.
• Despite longing for his father, Calvin studies all the books sent by him, trying to understand their shared bond.
• Calvin realizes that both his biological father and the science he loves have abandoned him, leading to his enduring grudge.