Resumen Clay

CLAY 
Peace Like a River is told through the perspective of Reuben Land. The story opens with Reuben’s birth as told to him by his father, Jeremiah Land. Reuben’s lungs were “swampy.” They did not fill with air. The presiding doctor, Animas Nokes, had stopped resuscitation, and turned to console Reuben’s mother, Helen. Reuben’s father entered the room and despite the doctor’s protests, commandedhis baby son to breathe. It is Reuben’s compliance that gives him a sense of purpose in a life ever-hindered by breathing difficulties. He believes that he is meant to be a witness to the miracles wrought by his father; his own survival being the first.

HIS SEPARATE SHADOW 
Reuben opens the second chapter enigmatically, pronouncing he will tell the story of his father’s third miracle (thesecond was that Reuben suffered no brain damage from his 12-minute lack of oxygen at birth). It occurs when Reuben is eleven-years-old, and he remembers it especially well because it occurred on the day he had his first hunting kill—a snow goose. Over Thanksgiving vacation, Reuben, his eight-year-old sister, Swede, his sixteen-year-old brother, Davy, and their father traveled to the home of longtimefamily friend, August Shultz and his wife, Birdie. They had traveled late in the night, after a football game.
Jeremiah Land is the school janitor and was responsible for closing the stadium. They got a late start, but not before an incident. Jeremiah had come to the aid of Dolly, Davy’s girlfriend, who was accosted by two bullies, Israel Finch and Tommy Basca. Luckily Jeremiah arrived in time.He thought no more action would need to be taken, though Davy disagreed. Reuben and Swede had feigned sleep in order to eavesdrop, but could not understand why Davy was so angry.
BEAUTEOUS ARE MY CAKES INDEED
Two nights later, the Land family arrives home to find their front door tarred. Reuben reports his own nauseous reaction, and adds that Davy emanated “waves of something spooky.” Jeremiahexplains to Reuben the principle of escalation, and why they should not react. Even though his father’s interpretation makes sense, Reuben is fearful, though he forgets over the routine of the next few days.
Reuben has difficulty with geography and grammar, while Swede hates long division. Swede’s strength however is composition. She loves westerns and is writing a long ballad in verse about theheroism of Sunny Sundown and his nemesis, the bandit, Valdez.
A revival crusade comes to town and Reuben wants to go—not because he is particularly pious, but because he hopes to see Bethany Orchard. Only Reuben and Jeremiah attend, Reuben thinks it convenient to be without Swede observing him.
The service is long and the visiting preacher is a “Bible-thumper.” Bethany leaves the sanctuary, Reubenfollows. They meet in the church kitchen, and after Reuben pronounces that he sometimes makes dinner, they make pancakes. It is only after the laying of hands, when parishioners begin to slump to the floor—making quite a thump on the kitchen ceiling—that Reuben and Bethany are reminded that they have missed the whole sermon. They return to the sanctuary to find that Jeremiah has been “knockedcold by love.”
Suddenly Jeremiah sits up and announces that he and Reuben must go home. Something terrible has happened. Escalation has struck, and Swede is in danger.

YOUR TOUGHENED HEART 
Swede is abducted and molested by Tommy Basca and Israel Finch. The crime is reported to the town police officer, Ted Pullet, who explains away the bullies’ behavior. Reuben comments “He was no good to us”(37). Swede attempts to work through the experience by killing off the criminal Valdez in her ongoing Western epic starring cowboy hero, Sunny Sundown.
Despite her recent terrifying encounter, Swede has a magical ninth birthday. Reuben gives her a Western novel, Jeremiah gives her a typewriter, and Davy gives her a wonderfully restored saddle. The day is marred somewhat by the untimely arrival of...