Chapters 20-23 Summary

Henry decides not to reveal to anyone that Kwang was behind Eduardo’s death. This silence is his final gift to a man he once respected. As his last act for Glimmer & Company, he meets co-workers to deliver the list of ggeh members.

Henry sees on the news that Kwang was in a car accident. The 16-year-old Korean girl from the club who was with him in the car is in the hospital. The news also reports that Kwang was running an illegal money club. Many of the participants are undocumented and have been taken into custody. Protesters gather outside Kwang’s home.

Henry meets with Jack one last time. Jack reveals that Eduardo also worked for Glimmer & Company. Afterward, Henry goes to Kwang’s house. The protesters are still there, and they attack Kwang when he appears outside. Henry enters the fray to defend Kwang, but Kwang shields his “wide immigrant face” from Henry. Later, Henry learns that the Kwang family went back to Korea.

Henry becomes Lelia’s assistant, working with the children on speech therapy. In the final scene, they are in a classroom, and she calls out each student’s name. He loves hearing her say all their different names.

Chapters 20-23 Analysis

These chapters wrap up the loose ends of Henry’s time with Glimmer & Company and with Kwang. In some ways, Henry’s betrayal of Kwang seems justified, because Kwang turns out to be an uncontrolled person who hits women and drives drunk with a 16-year-old undocumented prostitute. And the list Henry turns over from Kwang’s office causes hundreds of undocumented immigrants to be rounded up and likely deported. In light of this unintended consequence, Henry’s new role helping Lelia teach immigrant children to speak English acts as a path to redemption and wholeness—a new identity built on connection, not alienation.