Anxious People: Chapter 32 Summary & Analysis

Back in the hostage drama, police sirens start to go off outside, and the bank robber runs onto the balcony and curses. Photos circulate of the “masked gunman” following this. The robber runs back inside to find Julia getting up; Julia snaps that she has to use the bathroom. Ro pats the robber’s leg and says that Julia is just sensitive because she’s pregnant. Julia shouts for Ro to stop making friends. To explain, Ro tells the robber that Julia’s upset because Ro is the sort of person to stop eating fish sticks after seeing the dolphins at the aquarium. The robber says their daughters, who are six and eight, are like that. Zara criticizes the robber for trying to rob a bank, but the robber says they just need time to think. Life wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.

Zara pulls out her phone so they can call the police and be done, but Ro says there’s no signal. Ro muses that maybe that’s okay; kids who grow up without screens are supposed to be smarter. Zara points out that Ro needs to be able to call for help if someone slips a peanut through the mail slot and the baby chokes on it. Julia returns and rolls her eyes. She says the bathroom is occupied. The robber tugs at the bathroom door—and that’s how this turns into a story about a rabbit.