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Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Concrete Rose, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Masculinity and Fatherhood
Identity and Individuality
Loyalty, Gang Affiliation, and Family
Poverty
Summary
Analysis
It’s been three weeks since Ant died, and things have been weird. Maverick realized that Ant had parents and friends, just like Dre, and he’s not sure how to feel now that Dre’s killer is dead. Shawn is also conflicted, though he agrees that Ant probably did kill Dre. Maverick throws himself into school, work, and caring for Seven. Things are starting to get better: Seven has just started sleeping four hours at a time. It’s Sunday, and Ma is out with Moe, so Maverick plays with Seven. Now that Seven is eating more expensive baby food, they don’t have cable anymore, and Maverick had to sell his video game console and his stereo.
With his death, Ant suddenly became human to Maverick. This is a difficult thing to deal with, as it forces Maverick to realize that the Garden Disciples aren’t just faceless adversaries. They’re people too, and they’re probably trying to support their families, just like Maverick is and Dre was. Although Maverick and Ma are having to sacrifice to make ends meet with Seven, Maverick doesn’t seem to upset about it, while suggests that he’s happily accepting his role as a father.
Themes
The doorbell rings—it’s Lisa, and she looks upset. Maverick asks her to wait because he needs to put Seven down for a nap. Lisa smiles as she takes Seven’s hand. She follows Maverick into the bedroom. Maverick tells her that he’s been reading parenting books that say it’s important to get Seven on a schedule. Lisa’s smile, meanwhile, doesn’t seem genuine—Maverick knows something is going on.
Maverick shows how important being a good parent is to him. He wants to do all the research and follow all the right advice—and he also wants to make sure Lisa sees him trying to be a good dad. Though he realizes something is wrong, he also wants to impress her.
Themes
Maverick sings one of Lisa’s favorite songs to Seven as he changes him. Lisa dances with Maverick, and Seven seems to really like her. They put him down, and he goes to sleep easily. Outside in the hallway, Lisa asks if they can talk. They sit in the kitchen, and Lisa starts to cry. She says that her period is late—she thinks she’s pregnant.
Maverick tries to impress Lisa by singing her favorite song to Seven and creating this intimate moment between the three of them. However, Maverick’s world comes crashing down again when Lisa reveals that she may be pregnant—presumably with Maverick’s child.
Themes
