Summary

Jim works hard to win Birdie’s affection, but the harder he tries, the sadder Birdie feels about her own father’s lack of attention to her and the more distant her memory of him becomes. Sandy is dismayed by Birdie’s poor treatment of Jim. They plan a trip to New York City, which Birdie pretends not to be excited about. She insists that Mona come along, and Mona, who has never visited the city, is enchanted. Birdie feels that some deep hunger is being satisfied by going to the city and seeing the variety of people and styles. Sandy seems to have the same reaction as they both drink in the sights. For the first time since she and her mother went on the lam, Birdie feels like running away and staying in New York.

While Jim and Sandy wander through a museum, Mona...