Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: Part Six, Chapter Eighteen Summary & Analysis

Mom tells Ari that Dante called, and asks if Ari is going to call him back. She points out that he’s been moping and lifting weights for five days now. Ari says this isn’t true; he’s been reading and thinking about Bernardo too. He’d like to start writing to him. Mom says that Bernardo returned her letters, but she stopped writing because it hurt too much. She tells Ari to temper his expectations, since Bernardo refused to see Dad the one time that Dad visited. She thinks that Bernardo is angry and ashamed of himself. Angrily, Ari says that Bernardo should move on and punches the wall. Mom stares with concern and asks Ari what’s wrong.

Mom pours herself a glass of wine and then pulls out two beers. She declares that they’re going to have a family meeting and goes to get Dad. Ari says he’s scared, which Mom says is good. Dad and Mom return and Ari says he’s not actually interested in drinking with his parents. Very seriously, Dad tells Ari about an experience in Vietnam. He and his fellow soldiers were on a reconnaissance mission and suddenly, there were grenades everywhere. They called for a chopper. Dad starts to cry as he says that a young man named Louie went down. Dad tried to go back for him, but the others wouldn’t let him. Dad sobs and Ari feels his heart breaking. He regrets seeing Dad’s pain and understands that Dad’s trauma is still raw.

Dad says that he’s not sure how he felt about the war or the U.S., but he loved the men he fought with. He wasn’t always a good man or a good soldier, and he dwells on the men they left behind. They’re silent for a long time and then Dad says that he hears Louie calling for him sometimes. Ari points out that Dad would’ve died and says that they don’t have to talk about this. Dad says that it might be time to stop the dreams and then smiles at Ari.

Dad tells Ari that it’s time to stop running. Ari has no idea what Dad is talking about, and Dad explains that he’s talking about Ari and Dante. He says it’s clear that Dante loves Ari, but Ari says that Dante is into Daniel, not him. Dad says that the bigger problem is that Ari is in love with Dante. Ari stares at his parents’ faces and says he doesn’t think it’s true. Dad cuts him off and says that he thinks that Ari saved Dante last year because Ari couldn’t deal with the thought of losing him. This, he says, is love. Ari insists that Dante is just his friend, but Dad points out that Ari also beat up Julian. Ari asks why Dad is talking like this and cries as Dad says that he loves Ari and is tired of seeing him so lonely.

When Ari stops crying, he says that he liked it better when Dad didn’t talk and admits that he’s ashamed of being gay. Mom says that Aunt Ophelia taught her a lot and that Ari can’t run from Dante. When Ari says that he hates himself, Mom tells him not to—she can’t bear to lose another son. Ari asks how she can love him so much. Mom says that he’s beautiful and Ari asks what to do. Softly, Dad says that Dante didn’t run when they beat him. Ari understands Dad, and feels as though Dad understands him.