Bud, Not Buddy Chapter 18 Summary

  • On their third trip in a week, Bud listens to the band tease each other for fun. The Thug heckles Dirty Deed because he is the only white man in the band, but Deed comes back with wit and confidence.
  • Bud learns that Mr. C always has one white person in the band to set up gigs and to "own" his property, since black people aren't allowed to own property.
  • After the band finishes a great set, Mr. Jimmy tells Bud to ride back with Calloway. Oh, no. Bud is not thrilled about having to sit with Calloway for over an hour.
  • Once Mr. C comes out of the club, he tries to pick a rock up off the ground but can't reach because of his large belly. (We didn't make that up.) He asks Bud to get it for him, and then he puts it in his pocket.
  • Huh? Bud is confused about why Calloway wants a rock. He asks him. Mr. C says it is a "Bad habit" and they get in the car (18.31).
  • The real surprise happens when Calloway tosses the stone in his glove box. Inside the glove box are a whole bunch of stones with city names and numbers on them, just like Bud's.
  • Bud says he had rocks like that and snags his case from the back, but Calloway never asks to see them so Bud just sits there, waiting to be asked.
  • Back at the Grand Calloway Station, a.k.a. Calloway's house, Bud shows Calloway the rocks and Calloway goes bonkers. He thinks that Bud stole them from the room he sleeps in.
  • Mr. Jimmy steps in to help and although Bud is scared of Calloway's anger, he tells Jimmy that the rocks were his momma's and that her name was Angela.
  • Well, at the moment, Mr. C gets real dazed and funny looking and walks zombie-like into his house.
  • Finally, Bud thinks he's found his dad, but Mr. Jimmy sets Bud straight: Mr. C was Angela's dad.
  • Bud is grateful that Calloway isn't his father.