Al Capone Does My Shirts

Tuesday, April 2, 1935

Scout and Moose get put together for a class project “and just like that [they’re] friends again” (135). Scout plans a baseball game at lunch. Later, he asks Moose for one of those convict baseballs and admits to Moose that he thinks Piper is cute. Moose will try to get a convict baseball before Piper can get Scout one instead. Moose disagrees about Piper’s cuteness; he thinks about Piper and Scout all afternoon and it troubles him greatly.

Moose takes Natalie outside with him to go look for baseballs. He notices that he is enjoying talking with her and is amazed when Natalie makes eye contact with him. Moose wonders whether this is because Mrs. Kelly is really helping. He tries to get Natalie to trudge through the bushes but she decides to play with rocks instead. His desire to find a baseball becomes an obsession: “I don’t want Piper to find a ball for Scout. I don’t know why, but I don’t” (139). Moose finds a gap in the fence, possibly caused by rain eroding the soil, but if he steps inside, Natalie will be out of his sight.

Same day—Tuesday, April 2, 1935

Moose sees something in the grass and wants to have a closer look at it; however, he is having trouble crawling through the gap in the fence and he is fearful because he cannot see Natalie. He is torn between his desire to check on her and to go in and retrieve what he sees. When Moose finally gets through the fence, his search is fruitless.

He returns to Natalie, who hasn’t moved from her spot. She says the number “105” and Moose makes guesses at where it comes from. Rocks? Birds? Natalie lets him know that he is wrong. 

Wednesday, April 24, 1935

Every day at school Moose plays baseball with Scout at lunch. Scout has not asked him anymore about finding a convict baseball but Piper has, repeatedly. Even though his search has turned nothing up, he has been enjoying his outings with Natalie. Their relationship has grown significantly: “We’re getting along, Nat and I. It’s peaceful to spend time with her out here. Sometimes I even tell her stuff that’s bothering me. I don’t know if she understands, but she’s quiet like she hears” (143).

In the afternoon, on the way to look for baseballs, Moose runs into Annie and Theresa, who are working on something. Theresa would like to come with Moose to look for balls, but she is too busy with her mystery project, so he and Natalie go alone.

Once he sets Natalie up in her usual spot, Moose takes his time to search the area thoroughly. He finds nothing and is really discouraged. When he returns to their spot, he finds that Natalie is gone.