This Tender Land: Chapter 59 Summary & Analysis

Two days later, Odie arrives in Saint Louis. Having only visited the city once when he was young, Odie sticks close to the river, where he finds a large Hooverville of shantytowns. A man shows him a free kitchen under the bridge, called The Welcome Inn, where a long line of people is waiting. Feeling he should have gone with Maybeth to Chicago, Odie finds the post office and asks if any letters have come for him by general delivery. Though no letters have arrived from Maybeth, another customer is able to direct Odie to Aunt Julia’s house by the details he remembers: the street has a Greek name and is near a candy shop. Odie feels he is almost home.

Aunt Julia’s street is called “Ithaca.” The candy shop has closed since the Depression, but her house is easy to find since it is painted pink. Although it is not as welcoming as he would like, Odie knocks on the door. A Black woman in a red dressing gown answers, looking surprised when he asks for Julia. The woman tells him to wait. Odie notes that the sky is green, just like it was the day the Tornado God killed Mrs. Frost, and he worries that he will strike again now. A woman Odie doesn’t recognize comes to the door and looks at him with shock and wonder. She calls him “Odysseus.”