Summary

The shrink asks the narrator to think about memories of her mother. The narrator remembers her mother sitting in bed for three days writing letters, then pushing her father down after he tells her to get up. The narrator and Eric go to a French restaurant and discuss what they would do if Eric gets an offer from Oberlin; the narrator states, "Then, I guess, I would keep the dog" (70). She draws a connection between her mother's unhappiness in Michigan and the unhappiness she would likely feel in Ohio. They fight when they get home; the narrator yells at Eric, while Eric says nothing and continues to act kind and patient, bringing her a freshly washed towel for her shower.

She accepts the best friend's invitation to visit her in Manhattan. While they are spending time together in the city, the best friend...