Unlikely Animals

The section again begins with an excerpt from The Collected Writings of Ernest Harold Baynes. The text, entitled “A Chapter on Bears” describes Harold’s decision to give Jimmie the bear to the New York Zoo after his growing strength made his playful interactions increasingly dangerous. The last straw came when Jimmie seized Mrs. Baines and threw her into the snow. Harold describes visiting Jimmie at the zoo and the bear crying, asking to be taken home.

On the night of “The Inaugural Heroes Against Heroin Spaghetti Dinner,” organized by Percy Eakin, Emma sees a photograph of Crystal on the memorial table alongside the other local overdose victims. She angrily confronts Percy Eakin, then immediately feels guilty, remembering that he has recently lost his daughter.

Auggie gets up to give his speech, and Emma learns that her brother had attempted suicide, jumping off a bridge, but changed his mind and swam to safety. Her father drove him to the rehabilitation facility and slept outside for five days in his truck while his son detoxed. Everyone looks for Clive in the audience, but he is nowhere to be seen.

Percy Eaklin releases the football club’s symbol, a rooster called Ulysses.