Eleanor and Park: Chapter 27 Summary & Analysis

The next morning, Eleanor actually feels better. Her mother gives her a little gift of a glass flower pin she found at the thrift shop, and there is breakfast on the table. As Eleanor heads to the bus stop, she is afraid Park won’t be there—but is delighted to see that he is as she rounds the corner. She runs towards him and greets him sunnily, and the two joke about her swift change in demeanor. She happily tells Park that she told her mother she’d be going to a friend’s house after school, and Park smiles.

Park is grateful for Eleanor’s happy, playful mood—even though he’s surprised and a little disoriented by it. He is excited for her to come to dinner, and tries to be careful not to say anything to her about what’s been going on at home that might make her feel uncomfortable, nervous, or unwelcome.

Eleanor’s happy mood persists throughout the day, from English to history to Spanish. She feels pangs of nervousness about going over to Park’s creep in from time to time, but she reminds herself to be happy and tries to reassure herself that even if Park’s parents aren’t the “decent people” she hopes they are, at least she’ll have Park with her when she faces them again. There is nowhere, she thinks, she wouldn’t go “to be there with Park.”