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Ordinary People Chapter 15 Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • Instead of Christmas in Florida, the Jarrett family has Christmas with the grandparents.
  • Hey, at least Grandpa won't open up into a huge sinkhole and swallow the house.
  • The Jarretts have a pleasant dinner, but they're still feeling the loss of Conrad's brother, Jordan, who has been dead only a year and a half.
  • To get their minds off that, it's present time.
  • Cal takes Conrad outside, where a brand-new car is waiting for him.
  • Instead of jumping around like a crazy person on The Price is Right, Conrad takes the keys, says thanks, gets in, and drives off.
  • Calvin feels like the car was a mistake. Why? It's not like it's a Chevy Nova or something.
  • Beth later tells Calvin that he can't try to buy Conrad's love with a car.
  • Calvin doesn't think that's what he was trying to do.
  • But the more he thinks about it, the more Calvin realizes that yes, he was trying to make everything better with a car. And it's not going to happen. Especially not with a Pontiac.