Al Capone Does My Shirts

Same day—Monday, January 7, 1935

After Moose returns home from school, he answers a call from the Esther P. Marinoff School. Mr. Purdy, the headmaster, informs Moose that his parents will need to pick Natalie up that evening because she is not settling in at all. Moose asks Mr. Purdy how he can tell that Natalie is not ready for the school when she has only been there for 36 hours. Mr. Purdy says that “these things become clear rather quickly” (61).

When Moose hangs up the phone, his mom sees the sad look on his face and assumes it is because he misses Natalie. Moose wakes his dad up and tells him about the phone call from Mr. Purdy. Cam decides to “take it from here” (63).

Same day—Monday, January 7, 1935

Moose’s mother barely reacts to the news that they must pick Natalie up, except to demand that they leave immediately. Cam cannot come because he has to work, and so Moose goes with his mother.

Moose lists the many other ways they have tried to “figure out” Natalie: “heat treatments and before that the aluminum formula and before that UCLA” (64-65). All of these treatments failed, and UCLA advised Helen to “donate [Natalie’s] brain to science when she dies” (65). The impact of these previous failed attempts was palpable, causing Helen to stop taking care of her family: “Things fell apart at my house after that. Ants in the sink. Flies on the garbage. Cereal for supper. No clean dishes. Natalie in the same dirty dress. The blood of picked scabs on her arm” (65).

Helen implores Mr. Purdy to give Natalie another chance. Mr. Purdy gives her a piece of paper with the name and contact information for a Mrs. Kelly—a special education tutor. Helen is committed to do whatever it takes for Natalie: “No matter what this little paper says, [Moose’s] mother will do it” (67). Mr. Purdy explains why precisely Natalie can’t stay at school: “We can’t have a child who screams like a banshee at five-fifteen in the morning in a neighborhood like this” (69).

Tuesday, January 8, 1935

With Natalie at home, Moose feels more normal.

On the way to school, Piper apologizes to Moose about making him visit her dad and explains that her convict-laundry scheme is not against the Warden’s rules. However, Moose does not trust her, pointedly asking, “Why should I help you? You treat me like something stuck to the bottom of your shoe” (73). Piper convinces Moose to be a part of her laundry project by promising to be kind to Natalie.

Once they are at school, Piper warms up the crowd, making up a story about a shiv. When she walks away, Moose spins a ridiculous lie about a special cell on Alcatraz for those convicts caught with an overdue library book: “Most everyone knows I’m kidding, but one girl isn’t too sure” (78).

After class, Piper collects different articles of clothing to be laundered by the prisoners. One girl even wishes she could take off her dress on the spot. Moose is impressed with Piper’s salesmanship: “I have to admit…Piper is pretty smart. But she’s going to get in trouble for this, I just know it” (79).