Same Kind of Different as Me: Chapter 28 Summary & Analysis

As Ron’s relationship with Denver grows, his art business also continues to expand. One day, Ron gets “the kind of call of which art dealer’s fantasies are made” to sell a valuable sculpture by Alexander Calder that is currently mounted in the middle of Fort Worth. The sculpture is a local treasure, so the arrangements for removing it and shipping it to Canada must be kept secret. As the months pass and Ron works out the details of the sale, he also tries to convince Denver to go to the retreat but does not expect he will go.

Ron receives a call from Deborah, who is ecstatic, claiming that it has been an excellent weekend at the retreat, reporting that Denver played piano and sang to God in front of a crowd of people. Ron looks forward to hearing Denver’s take on the retreat, but nobody hears from him or can find him for days afterward and they begin to worry.

Finally, Denver calls from the hospital and Ron goes to see him. It turns out that Denver had been nervous about “using the Man’s bathroom” at the retreat, and had held in his bowels for so long that he became severely constipated, so now he’s in the hospital trying to “get unplugged.” Speaking with Ron, Denver says the retreat was important to him, a way for him to reset his mind. But he also warns Ron that something bad will soon happen, saying of Deborah, “When you is precious to God, you become important to Satan. Watch your back, Mr. Ron. Something bad getting ready to happen to Miss Debbie.”