Eleanor and Park: Chapter 20 Summary & Analysis

The next day, before leaving her father’s house, Eleanor steals some toothbrushes and soap from the hall closet. Her father only pays her seven dollars before driving her home, where he greets all of Eleanor’s siblings and gives them car rides around the neighborhood. A few hours after Eleanor’s father leaves, Richie orders all the kids to pile into the back of his truck bed—despite the cold weather—so that he can take them to a movie. On the drive back from the theater, the car passes Park’s house, and Eleanor wonders which window is his.

Meanwhile, Park regrets telling Eleanor that he loves her—even though he does. He feels, though, that he said the words too soon, especially knowing how Eleanor feels about sappy things like Romeo and Juliet. It is Sunday, and Park is getting dressed to go next door to his grandparents’ house for dinner. His father’s parents are gregarious Irish people—Park is resentful that he didn’t get more of their genes. Over dinner, Park’s family teases him about his new girlfriend—and his grandmother expresses sympathy for the girl, who is growing up with the no-good Richie Trout for a stepfather.

Sunday night, Eleanor—who has never lied to her mother about “anything important” before—tells Sabrina that she is planning on going to a neighborhood friend’s house tomorrow after school. Eleanor tells her mother that her new friend is named Tina. Sabrina tells Eleanor it’s okay for her to go over, and expresses happiness over the fact that Eleanor is “finally making friends.”