Lesson 27 — Activity 3: Chapter 16 and the Epilogue (pages 97 – 102)


Please read the last chapter of the novel, Chapter 16, and the epilogue (pages 97 – 102).



Chapter 16 and the epilogue of the novel concludes the story. This is the falling action and resolution part of the plot.

You know now that Rennie decided to return the bracelet, and you also know there is more to her relationship with Julie that needs to be resolved. You also may be wondering what will happen to the Trani family as the war continues.

    

The chapter began with Rennie preparing to return the bracelet. She realized she was lucky to be forgiven by her Mama, but she was not sure she would find such a warm reception from the McLeans. As she made her way to Julie's house, she ran into Maxie MacPhee, who told Rennie that her father, Sgt. MacPhee, had not wanted to arrest Rennie's father, and that there was a chance Rennie's father may be sent home from the internment camp.

With this happy news, Rennie went to the end of Julie's sidewalk.

Rennie returned the bracelet and was very glad to see how happy Julie was. However, Julie accused Rennie of stealing the bracelet. Rennie explained that she tried to return the bracelet, but she could not because of the anger and hate between and around them. To Rennie's dismay, as she left, Julie gave her the bottle of wine Papa had given Julie for Mr. McLean's birthday. Rather than speak angrily to Julie, Rennie showed her new found maturity and left the door open to resuming their friendship when Julie was ready.

Rennie returned home and buried the returned wine bottle in the bracelet hole so that Papa's feelings would not be hurt by it. As she did so, she imagined that she was burying "all the badness" that she had in herself.

The chapter ended after Rennie turned from her special tomato plant to the house and saw her Papa!

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The epilogue is the part of the story that in plot descriptions is sometimes referred to as the dénouement. In other words, it is the part of the story that ties up some of the loose ends or answers some of the questions that are not in the main part of the story, but are still important in order to have an understanding of the story.

The epilogue told us more about the facts of the internment of Italian Canadians in World War II. What happened to Rennie's father really happened to hundreds of Italian Canadians, mostly in Ontario and Quebec, but also in Nova Scotia. Similar to Cosimo Trani, they were arrested for no reason other than that they were of Italian background.

As well, we learn that some of the prisoners were released within months of being sent to prison, but most spent two to three years as internees. They suffered a great deal financially (through the loss of their businesses) as well as emotionally by being taken from their families.