Eleanor & Park Chapter 43 Summary

Park

  • Park's parents never fight, but today they're arguing, and they tell Josh and Park to go to dinner next door without them. Josh asks Park what he did wrong, and Park doesn't know. He doesn't think it's about Eleanor.

Eleanor

  • Eleanor gets a new combination lock for her gym locker from Mrs. Dunne, who tells her they're trying to get to the bottom of the bullying. Eleanor thinks Tina's watching her for a reaction, but Park's been openly affectionate on the bus, and so it's easy for Eleanor to ignore Tina.
  • Park tells Eleanor to come get him right away if anyone steals her clothes, but nothing happens. DeNice and Beebi have also heard about what happened, and vow not to let Eleanor walk alone to lunch again.

Park

  • Park's mom comes to pick him up at the bus stop and takes him to his driving test. He asks about his dad, but his mom says, "This is our business right now, you and me" (43.27). Park passes the test on his first try, and his mom cries as he gets his picture taken, and tells him he has his license if he needs it, "for emergency" (43.35). Park can't imagine why he would have a driving emergency. 
  • He shows Eleanor his license on the bus the next day. She's mostly excited about the photo on it, because she doesn't have any pictures of Park. He promises to give her a school picture, and they joke again about Eleanor being the Han Solo in the relationship.

Eleanor

  • Park gives her a school picture, and they hang out in his room again, kissing and looking at Park's old school pictures. He asks for one of her pictures, but of course, she doesn't have one. 
  • Park decides they should take a picture now, and discourages his mom from giving Eleanor another makeover for the occasion. His mom insists on taking a picture of them together, and Park doesn't mind, saying, "I want to remember tonight" (43.65).
  • When Eleanor gets home, her mom offers to watch the bathroom doorway while she takes a bath. Her mom mentions that she ran into a friend whose daughter got pregnant, and says she's so lucky that Eleanor is "smart about boys," because Eleanor's "stayed away from them" (43.80-83).
  • Eleanor's mom adds that Eleanor's not only smarter about boys, but braver, too, saying, "I haven't been on my own since the eighth grade" (43.84). Which explains so much.
  • Eleanor can't think of a safe place for Park's photo, so she puts it in her school bag.