Chapter 12 Summary

Back from their county fair adventure, Robert and Pinky must settle down to business. Robert sees his father come home from work, covered with blood and guts from pig killing, reeking of the slaughter. When Robert asks him why he is so dirty, seeing as he wears an apron, Papa replies that dying and being born are both a dirty business. Papa mentions that Pinky should have come into heat by this time, but he has not observed it. He wonders if Pinky is barren. Robert asks if that is the same as their aunt who cannot bear children, but Papa warns him to speak softly so as not to hurt his aunt's feelings.

Robert knows the significance of Pinky being barren. It means that Pinky must soon be slaughtered for food, which is abhorrent to the boy, since he loves his pet...