The Man Who Loved Clowns

Avanelle and Delrita walk home from school together. Avenelle is kind and sympathetic toward Delrita. Delrita realizes that she is like a tree growing out of a rock: Just as trees need light and water, Delrita needs Avenelle. 

Delrita shows her the swan carving from Walt. As they walk, she tells Avanelle everything about finding out her parents died at Silver Dollar City, Whittlin’ Walt, and Aunt Queenie. They end up laughing and crying together. 

When they get to Avanelle’s house, she invites Delrita in. Delrita has a great time talking to Avanelle’s siblings, and her mother invites Delrita to come over again soon and bring Punky. Avanelle tells Delrita that they will soon be best friends, and Delrita feels that she has “finally burst through the rock” (118).

Thinking about her father and Walt’s note, Delrita resolves to carve a new swan with outstretched wings. She starts the project despite Aunt Queenie’s warnings to clean up the sawdust. She decides to name the new swan Herkimer.

Delrita begins going to Avenelle’s house every day after school, and she talks to Avanelle more than she’s ever talked to anyone. She makes plans to go back to the Shacklefords’ house on Saturday, and Delrita is excited to see Tree. She hasn’t seen him in a while, but she has been thinking about him a lot.

When Delrita gets home, Aunt Queenie is crying because all of her plants are destroyed. Delrita knows immediately that it was Punky. Queenie decides that Punky has to get a job at the workshop to keep him out of trouble. Uncle Bert takes her side, but he tries to console Delrita with the idea that societal attitudes toward people with disabilities are changing, and Punky can benefit from new opportunities.

Over dinner that evening, Delrita explodes with anger. She yells at Aunt Queenie that she values being organized over Punky’s well-being. Bert and Queenie are speechless, and Queenie begins to cry. Delrita goes to work on her wood carving, the only activity that gives her a feeling of having control over something.

On Saturday, Delrita leaves her aunt and uncle an intentionally vague note saying that she and Punky are going out. They go to the Shacklefords’ house, and Punky plays with the younger kids while Delrita hangs out with Avanelle. Tree isn’t at the house, and Delrita wonders where he is. 

Avanelle suggests that they all go to the homecoming parade. Delrita is nervous about taking Punky out in public, but she agrees. Avanelle tells Delrita that she thinks the workshop will be good for Punky. Tree volunteers at the Special Olympics practice sessions with her Aunt Queenie. Avanelle says that a lot of volunteers are “huggers”—people who hug the participants after events—and Queenie is a “hugger.” Delrita is shocked to learn this about her aunt.

At the parade, a tractor full of people from the sheltered workshop passes by. Delrita is surprised that there are so many people with disabilities in Tangle Nook, and no one laughs at them.

That evening, Uncle Bert and Aunt Queenie tell Delrita that the workshop will give Punky a sense of self-worth. They also mention that it will be good for Delrita to have time away from Punky, too. The next day after church, Tree comforts Delrita about Punky going to the workshop. He says that people are not as cruel as she thinks. Avanelle is embarrassed about their dad being in prison, he explains, but when Tree tells people about it, they never make fun of him. Tree puts his arm around Delrita, which she can’t stop thinking about afterward.

It’s Punky’s first day of work, and Aunt Queenie tells Delrita that she should skip school that morning and go to the workshop with Punky to ease her fears. Delrita goes with Uncle Bert and Punky to the workshop. She is surprised to see that everyone there seems happy. Delrita finds herself staring at them, which she thinks is “unforgivable.” The workers all stare at Delrita and Bert and whisper amongst themselves. Punky makes friends immediately.

Delrita and Bert meet with Mr. Reese, who goes by “Boss.” Boss explains to Delrita that his workshop teaches people with disabilities to become “freed by what they can do, instead of being restricted by what they can’t” (149). Boss says that people tend to underestimate people with disabilities—even their own family members. He also explains that many of the workers go on to work jobs in the public and that McDonald’s, Punky’s favorite place, hires many people with disabilities. Boss says that Queenie is the workshop’s most active volunteer, which shocks Delrita.

After visiting the workshop, Delrita feels guilty about how she treated Aunt Queenie. Uncle Bert explains that Queenie is a good person. He says that her overly organized nature, preoccupation with her plants, and volunteering are her ways of dealing with the fact that she can’t have children.

At school, Delrita works from the math book she shares with Avanelle. A letter falls out of the book. It’s a letter Avanelle wrote to her dad in prison. The other girls nearby pick up the letter and read the address, figuring out the truth about Avanelle’s dad. Georgina tells Avanelle that Delrita told them. 

Avanelle is angry and ignores Delrita for the rest of the day. Delrita is devastated at losing the only friend she’s ever had. At church on Sunday, Avanelle continues to ignore Delrita, but Tree is friendly to her. Tree says that Punky is excelling in the Special Olympic practice sessions. Delrita feels lonely, and she misses her family desperately.