One Man’s Family – Book 70, Chapter 14.

Title: San Fransisco Answers Back.

Pinky is on his first job away from home, and back home Joan is moving in with her uncle Paul. She is to start a siummer job at the airport with him. He helps carry in her bags, and get settled in to her upstairs room. Joan settles into the room that Teddy used to live in, and the two talk about the photos left in the room.

Down at the Sky Ranch, the family is gathered around the pool. Hank jokes about his brother being a wage slave, but Dan tries to tell him there’s dignity in a satisfying days work, and there’s no shame in it. Dan thinks there’s no belittling jobs, just belittling attitudes.

Cliff talks to Hazel, trying to remember his first wife, Irene. He has 11 years of memory wiped out, and is trying to make sense of it. He wonders why his son, Skip has been raised by his sister Claudia and her husband. Has he done something wrong? Hazel finds the family bible, and reads the eulogy for Irene as a way to help assure Clifford that he shouldn’t have any guilt in the matter.

Jack brings in the mail, and the family regroup. Dan, Hazel, Nick, Claudia, and Henry gather as the younger set have all gone out for ice cream with Fanny. Letters from Pinky, doctors, neighbors, magazines, and more. What’s the significance of the letter from San Fransisco, and the Jr Chamber of Commerce? What made them think the Barbers were moving?

What does Pinky have to say in his letter? Will Dan have some explaining to do with Hazel?