Walk Two Moons Chapter 29 Summary

The Tide Rises

  • Of course we're not done with Phoebe's story yet, so let's dive back in.
  • In English class, Mr. Birkway reads William Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" out loud, and asks the students for their interpretations.
  • Sal thinks that the poem is about a man who dies. Phoebe agrees with this and adds that he dies a horrific death. But Ben, on the other hand, thinks the man in the poem dies a normal death. Sal responds by saying that death is never, ever normal, to which Ben responds that sometimes even the most horrible things are normal. (What are your thoughts on this debate?)
  • After school, Phoebe and Sal go to the police station to report Mrs. Winterbottom's disappearance to an officer named Sergeant Bickle. Sergeant Bickle calls Mr. Winterbottom who comes to pick the girls up.
  • At home, Phoebe tells Mr. Winterbottom that her mom would never leave her because she loves her too much. Right then and there, Mr. Winterbottom cries, which never happens.