In "The Moustache" by Robert Cormier, after the pivotal nursing home scene, the next significant event that builds suspense and increases complications involves the protagonist, Mike, grappling with the emotional fallout of his decision to grow a moustache. As Mike interacts with various characters, particularly his grandmother, who mistakes him for his father, the tension escalates. This identity confusion leads Mike to confront deeper themes of memory, loss, and the fragility of family connections.
As he navigates these encounters, Mike becomes increasingly unsettled by the realization that his physical change has profound implications on how his family perceives him and, more alarmingly, how they connect him to his deceased father. The conflict of Mike trying to assert his identity while dealing with his grandmother's emotional reaction creates a palpable tension, emphasizing the central theme of memory and the impact of the past on the present. This struggle reveals the complexities of personal and familial relationships, heightening the suspense as Mike grapples with the consequences of his actions.