Reaching Out

Back home for the summer—with a few extra pounds on his frame—Frank discovers that his father’s emotional and health problems have worsened and are beginning to dominate the family’s home life. At dinner, Frank and his father have a short spat after Frank shares some Spanish grammar knowledge he learned in college. “‘Que diablos!’ my father shouted angrily. ‘Are you correcting me?’” (66). Later, Frank’s father locks himself in a shed for an entire day and refuses to eat or talk to anyone. Frank and his mother are both saddened by his suffering.

That summer, Frank returns to his regular job with the Santa Maria Window Cleaners and uses his earnings to help the family. 

Frank finally gets to meet Robert E. Easton, the man whose office he has cleaned for many years while working for the Santa Maria Window Cleaners. To Frank, the office had a fascinating, old-fashioned air, and after cleaning it he would often stay there to do his homework. Easton, a kindly 87-year-old man, tells Frank about his life experiences running various electric and gas companies. When he notices that Frank has inflamed gums, he pays for Frank to go to the dentist. “Instinctively, I covered my mouth with the palm of my hand.