Al Capone Does My Shirts

Monday, January 7, 1935

Moose is on his way to his new school and is miserable because the only person he will know there is Piper, whom he considers an enemy. Moose assumes his chances of making friends are small. When Moose walks into class, his teacher, Miss Bimp, thinks he’s “big for seventh grade” (43) and asks him whether he was held back. The whole class laughs and Moose is hot with embarrassment. She tells him to sit “in the back so [he] doesn’t block anyone’s view of the board” (43).

During the students’ presentations, Moose writes a note to a student named Scout asking him if he plays baseball. Scout writes him a note back telling him where to meet later—the baseball team needs more players.

In her presentation, Piper brags about singing a solo, describes the infamous convicts at Alcatraz, and tells everyone that Moose lives at Alcatraz too. In his presentation, Moose tells the class that he moved to Alcatraz over Christmas vacation and that a convict served him dinner: “‘He could have been killed,’ Piper says in a stage voice” (46).

After class, Piper asks Moose to help her with her school project, which turns out to be an unethical moneymaking scheme:

we’re going to sell the Alcatraz laundry service to kids at school. You know, get your clothes cleaned by famous Alcatraz convicts Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and Roy Gardner. We’ll charge five cents a shirt…Money will be split four ways. Jimmy and Annie will help us put the laundry through in their families’ bags, so they each get a cut, plus you and I (47).

Same day—Monday, January 7, 1935

Moose meets up with the ball players on the field after school. He makes up all sorts of tales about having snacks with the convicts of Alcatraz.

As Moose steps up to bat, the first two pitches are strikes. On the third pitch, he makes a ground hit and gets to first, but the team is not able to score in the inning. Fielding, he plays second base although he is used to first. Nevertheless, Moose manages to make a double play. Because of his success in the game, he feels that “maybe it won’t be so bad here. Not so bad at all” (52).

Same day—Monday, January 7, 1935

When Moose gets home, there is a note from his mom telling Moose to wake his dad up at 6 pm. Theresa is at the door waiting for him; apparently they are late to meet her brother Jimmy, Annie, and Piper. Once Moose learns that Theresa’s brother, Jimmy, is his age, he grabs his ball glove and follows her.

Moose tries playing ball with Jimmy and Theresa, but they are both terrible at it. Jimmy is more interested in a contraption he has built for launching marbles.

Moose finally asks Annie whether she would be interested in playing ball. She is very talented and Moose is impressed, since “she’s only a girl, after all” (56). Moose is so excited to find another person to play ball with that he gives Annie a hug. Annie tells him that the only other people that play ball on Alcatraz are the convicts. Sometimes, they hit a ball over the prison yard wall—the kids get to keep those balls. Annie tells everyone that Piper is at charm school. When Moose scoffs, Annie warns, “You got to get along with Piper. Otherwise she’ll make trouble for you and your dad” (57).

Shortly after, Piper mocks Moose him for playing baseball; in return, he mocks her for attending charm school. Angry that Moose will not help with her laundry project, Piper rolls her eyes when Moose asks, “How do you know I won’t tell your dad?” (59).