Hope Was Here Chapter 9 Summary

  • The gang shows up at the Election Board early the next morning.
  • The administrator tells them that they've got the wrong addresses for 55 names on the petition. G.T. asks for some extra time to look into the problem but the woman says no way. She's sticking to the rules. But not for long.
  • Pastor Hall walks right up to her and quietly delivers a mini-sermon on forgiveness and second chances. The woman caves and gives them until 5:00 that evening to work it all out.
  • The group splits up to get 55 valid signatures with valid addresses.
  • Two guys start hassling Hope after they notice her "Stoop" campaign button. She yells for help when one of them grabs her by the arm.
  • Deputy Babcock hears the commotion and comes to the rescue. She reads the deadbeats their rights as she leads them to her squad car.
  • Hope's still shaking a bit even though Addie is now by her side.
  • An older woman approaches them, introduces herself as Mavis Pettibone, and hands Hope a daylily flower. She tells Hope to put the flower in water and keep it in a sunny spot; the light will take care of it after that.
  • While everyone's caught up in the dinner rush at the diner that evening, Adam shares the news they'd been hoping to hear: G.T.'s name made it onto the official ballot with only two minutes to spare.
  • The next morning, Eli Millstone shows up at the diner with a photographer in tow. The guy snaps a picture of Eli shaking hands with G.T.
  • G.T. offers to buy Millstone breakfast and before Millstone can take his first sip of coffee, G.T. asks him if his relationship with the Real Fresh Dairy compromised the interests of the town. Millstone assures everyone in the diner that he's always had the best interests of the town in mind.
  • Cecelia Culpepper asks Millstone when he'll be publicly sharing the names of his campaign contributors. He tells her to call his office and heads out the door.
  • She yells after him that she has tried to call, but no one is returning her calls. Millstone pretends he doesn't hear her and keeps on walking.