The Boy in the Black Suit

Matt serves the food along with Love and the other volunteers. He thanks Love for bringing him, and she jokes that she “bamboozled” him into it. After eating, Matt notices the man he saw on the train to his mother’s grave the day before. Love calls him Candy Man but tells Matt his real name is Martin and that he was once a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks. After clean-up, Love takes photos of the children, a shelter tradition repeated each holiday. Matt sees Candy Man sitting alone at a chess board and asks other men why they don’t play with him. One says, “Candy Man ain’t no fun to play” (188) because he beats everyone so handily. The men cajole Matt into playing with Candy Man; Candy Man defeats Matt in eight moves. Candy Man asks Matt to stay after the defeat, and Matt sees that the old man is lonely. Candy Man asks about Matt, and Matt talks about his parents, neighborhood, and new friendship with Love. Candy Man tells Matt how his ball-playing career ended early with too much partying and substance abuse. His only family members are the others at the shelter.

A news reporter and crew arrive to interview Love about the shelter’s holiday celebration. Love leads the reporter to Matt and introduces him as a new volunteer. He initially is tongue tied on camera and uses an unfortunately ironic slang phrase: “I thought maybe I’d come and everyone here would be bummed out” (193). He then gives an effective statement that the reporter likes: “I realized that most of these people are kind, and just grateful for a hot meal and someone to talk to. We all can relate to that” (193).

In another conversation, Candy Man tells Matt stories about Love, such as how tough Love was with the boys at the shelter when she was young. The warm weather allows Matt and Love to walk back to her apartment at the end of the day. They talk comfortably. Love elaborates that Candy Man’s full name is Martin Gandrey, which Matt recognizes but cannot place. At Love’s door, Matt asks about other holidays like Christmas and New Year’s at the shelter, and Love confirms that they throw celebrations. She implies that Matt would enjoy being there. When he asks about Valentine’s Day, however, Love becomes upset. She tells him she doesn’t “do” Valentine’s Day and that he should go. She goes inside abruptly. Matt’s good mood dissolves, and he goes home frustrated that the day ended badly.

Near 11 o’clock that night, Mr. Ray arrives at Matt’s apartment with two plates of food in case Matt did not eat dinner. The two sit on the sofa Matt calls the “spaceship” and talk. Matt realizes when he sees Mr. Ray’s limp who Martin Gandrey is—the basketball player who crushed Mr. Ray’s knee years before, ending Mr. Ray’s chances at a long basketball career. Matt doesn’t know if he should tell Mr. Ray about Gandrey.

Mr. Ray asks about Matt’s date with Love, and Matt tells him about the day, leading up to Love’s reaction when he asked about Valentine’s Day. Mr. Ray reacts as if he knows why she had that emotional reaction, but he says he cannot share details as it is not his place.

Matt asks about Mr. Ray’s Thanksgiving, and Mr. Ray says he ate at home alone in his basement. Matt realizes that Mr. Ray did not come over just to check on him but because Mr. Ray is lonely and wants the company. The reporter’s spot about the shelter comes on the news, and they watch Matt appear on camera. Mr. Ray teases him for the “bummed out” comment. Candy Man appears in the news clip near Matt. Matt tells Mr. Ray his name is Candy Man, and Mr. Ray recognizes Gandrey: “I’ll be damned […] Sonuvabitch” (207). Matt sees Mr. Ray frown and his eyes seem “lost.”