Summary

The narrative shifts back to Eddie in Houston a few months after Darlene’s disappearance. At this point in time, Eddie explored the seedy parts of Houston and asked people if they have seen his mother. Eddie was constantly told to ask this person or that person to no avail. Eventually, he met a prostitute named Giggles who seemed to like Eddie, and Eddie wondered whether she would eventually have sex with him.

After Giggles rode off with a john, Eddie spotted a bum. The bum told Eddie that he knew where his mother went and that he would tell Eddie if Eddie bought him some alcohol (Eddie was 12 years old at the time). Eddie got someone to buy alcohol for him and gave it to the bum. The bum explained that Darlene was taken away in the Death Bus. The...