Al Capone Does My Shirts: Chapter 25: My Gap Summary & Analysis

Now, Moose plays baseball with Scout every day at lunch. Scout doesn’t say anything about the convict baseball—but Piper talks to Moose about it all the time. Moose ignores her and spends every afternoon with Natalie, looking for a ball. It’s “peaceful” being out with Natalie like this, and Moose sometimes talks to her about what’s bothering him. He always sets Natalie up where he can see her, except when he goes to the gap in the fence.

Today, Moose gets off school an hour early, and Mom leaves for San Francisco as soon as he gets home. Immediately, Moose leads Natalie out. Natalie is wearing a dress meant for a child—and she looks silly in it. They come across Annie and Theresa at the parade grounds, and Moose refuses an invitation to play. He explains that he’s looking for a convict ball, and Annie asks if it’s for Piper. Fighting a smile, she says he won’t find one, as the balls don’t go over often. Moose leads Natalie on anyway and admires the new garden flowers planted in the terraces. Natalie begins gathering stones as Moose continues his search. He rips his shirt sliding back through the gap and finds five piles of sorted stones—but Natalie is missing.