Concrete Rose: Chapter 26 Summary & Analysis

Maverick would’ve rather heard that Pops bought kids shoes, not that he got people addicted to crack. He thinks that one person’s hero can be another person’s monster—or father, in his case. But he also doesn’t think he can judge, since he’s plotting to kill Red. Killing Red will take away another kid’s father, but it’s the only way to get justice for Dre.

Maverick is at Evergreen Prison, waiting to see Pops. As he and the other visitors wait for the inmates, he watches mothers chasing their children around. Finally, the buzzer goes off and the inmates come in. Pops is one of the first inmates in. Neither he nor Maverick move to hug each other, so Maverick sits down and thanks Pops for seeing him. Pops says he’ll always see Maverick and asks what’s going on. Maverick looks up and thinks that Pops has every right to be upset—but it seems like he’s more likely to say “I love you” than say he’s angry.

Maverick apologizes for his behavior when he visited last, but Pops says that Maverick was right to call him out. He’s willing to forgive and forget. Though he’s not supposed to touch Maverick, he puts his fist out so Maverick can bump it. Then, Pops smiles and asks how Seven and Lisa are doing. Maverick says that Seven is crawling now, and he passes Pops a sonogram picture from Lisa’s last ultrasound. He insists it’s a boy, but Pops says to always listen to a woman’s intuition—if Lisa says it’s a girl, she’s right. Then Pops asks about Ma. Maverick says that Moe might move in, and that Ma is happy and in love. Maverick feels like he’s taking sides, but Pops assures Maverick that he and Ma will work this out.

Then, Pops asks what Maverick wants to talk about. Maverick has been trying to figure that out the entire drive; he thinks he needs Pops to tell him he’s doing the right thing and “being a man.” Nervously, in coded language, Maverick says that he found Dre’s killer and that it was Red. When Pops asks if Maverick wants to deal with this, Maverick says he “know[s] the code,” but that’s not what Pop asked. Maverick remembers Dre slumped over the steering wheel and says that no one can get away with this, so Pops asks why Maverick is asking for permission. Maverick does want Pops’s permission, but he knows he’ll sound like a little kid. He stays quiet.

Pops says that he’s been in Maverick’s shoes, and that Maverick will never forget it. Maverick starts to cry, and Pops puts his hand on Maverick’s cheek. A white guard barks at Pops, but a Latino guard tells the other guard to leave Pops alone. Pops quietly says that “Daddy’s here,” and Maverick sobs. He says the same thing to Seven all the time, but Maverick hasn’t heard those words in years. Maverick sobs that Dre should be here, and that he has to do this for Dre. Pops smiles a sad smile and says he thought he had to do lots of things, but all he really had to do was be there for Ma and Maverick. And he failed to do that.

The Latino guard tells Pops to sit back, and Pops does. Pops tells Maverick that he’s not going to give him approval or permission. Maverick has to become his own man and make this choice for himself—and he needs to make the choice he can live with. At this, the buzzer goes off, ending the visitation time. Maverick stands, and Pops pulls him into a hug. After a long time, Pops tells Maverick to take care and turns away quickly. Maverick notices that Pops is crying.