Al Capone Does My Shirts: Chapter 22: Al Capone’s Mama Summary & Analysis

Moose, Jimmy, and Piper—who’s dressed “for charm school” in white and pink—board the 9:30 boat on Sunday morning. Theresa, Jimmy says, isn’t coming, presumably because she can’t bring Rocky. They head for the front so they can catch a glimpse of Al Capone’s mother immediately. Suddenly, Moose hears wailing—and Theresa comes out of the cabin with a very unhappy Rocky. She thrusts the baby at Jimmy to calm down and says Mrs. Mattaman doesn’t need to know Rocky is here. Jimmy, however, struggles to even keep ahold of Rocky, so Rocky is still screaming when they dock.

Teresina Capone is unmistakable in the group that boards: she’s an old Italian lady with wavy gray hair. Moose is shocked; she looks like a normal grandma. Piper sits down next to Mrs. Capone and tries to introduce herself, but Mrs. Capone remains focused on a letter she holds close to her face. Piper finally drops her purse on Mrs. Capone’s toe. When Mrs. Capone hands the purse back, Piper tries to engage the woman in conversation, but Rocky begins to howl again. Ignoring Piper, Mrs. Capone gets up and asks Theresa if she can hold Rocky. Theresa gladly hands him over, clearly unaware that this is Al Capone’s mother. Rocky stops crying immediately, and Mrs. Capone sings an Italian lullaby to him. When the boat docks at Alcatraz, she hands Rocky back and her face goes dark.

Mrs. Capone walks through the “snitch box” (the metal detector), which blares. Piper shrieks that she has a gun and is going to break Al Capone out, while Theresa clutches Rocky close. The officer on duty and Mr. Trixle lead Mrs. Capone to a storage room nearby; Moose isn’t certain the old woman even understands English. Moments later, an officer comes out and sends Jimmy to get Mrs. Mattaman, who speaks Italian. Theresa manages to run away with Rocky just before her mother hurries down the hill. A short while later, Mrs. Mattaman and Mrs. Capone come out of the storeroom, Mrs. Capone looking embarrassed and rumpled. She gets back on the boat.

Later, Moose learns that the guards strip-searched Mrs. Capone, and her old-fashioned metal corset stays set the snitch box off. She didn’t have a weapon, and Mrs. Mattaman couldn’t convince Mrs. Capone that she wouldn’t face more humiliation. Moose can’t get over it. Al Capone was a baby once, and his mother no doubt sang him the lullaby she sang to Rocky. She certainly held his hand and packed his lunch. Moose bets she wishes she could do it again.