Lessons in Chemistry: Chapter 10: The Leash Summary & Analysis

Calvin opens a letter from a woman who claims she is his mother—it is the second such letter he has received in a short period of time. Calvin assumes the letter is fake because people often attempt to attach themselves to him due to his fame. He thinks about how it is ironic that strangers write to him, but his birth father never does. Calvin never talks to anyone about his father and still has not broached the subject with Elizabeth.

The only person who knows about Calvin’s biological father, other than those who ran the boys home, is Wakely, Calvin’s old pen pal, whom he never met in person. In a letter, Calvin once told Wakely that he wished his father were dead. Calvin presumes the letter shocked Wakely because Wakely never wrote back. Calvin avoids the subject with Elizabeth because he doesn’t want it to drive a wedge between them.

Calvin also thinks about the city’s new leash law. He and Elizabeth recently argued over whether they should start putting Six-Thirty on a leash. Calvin thinks he will be fine without one, but Elizabeth insists that they should follow the rules and avoid getting themselves or Six-Thirty in trouble. Previously, neither felt the need to leash Six-Thirty because he was so well trained and intelligent that he did not seem to need a leash. Eventually, Calvin gives in and starts putting a leash on Six-Thirty. If nothing else, he appreciates Elizabeth’s maternal instincts. One day, shortly after Calvin starts putting a leash on Six-Thirty, he decides to run to work with Six-Thirty by his side. However, he never makes it to work because he dies on the way there, 37 minutes after departing from the house.