The Boy in the Black Suit

Early on Thanksgiving Day, Mr. Ray brings Matt to visit his father in the rehab hospital. His father anticipates the holiday meal and hopes it is better than the typical hospital food. He references the meal in terms of past Thanksgivings they shared: “Not as good as your mother’s” (163). Matt recalls the wonderful homemade Thanksgiving meal his mother prepared each year: “When she cooked Thanksgiving, Brooklyn Daisy went on break and Carolina Daisy ran the show. It’s the only time she wouldn’t let me help. This meal was hers, and hers alone” (163). Matt tells his father that he went to visit Mom’s grave. His father suggests they go together to visit the grave when he leaves the rehab. Matt also tells his father that he plans to spend Thanksgiving with Love.

Mr. Ray drives Matt back to their neighborhood and persuades him to buy something to contribute to Love’s meal, like cookies. He suggests chocolate chip. Matt cannot find chocolate chip cookies at the bodega, so without much thought, he buys eggs, sugar, and flour to make homemade cookies. Back at home, for the first time since his mother's death, Matt uses the recipe book she created for him.