Summary

In Chapter 7, the author focuses on Lydia, Luke’s mother, using the past tense rather than the present tense of the first section. A telemarketer named Winton called her in December. This incident made her think of the wall by her telephone that had people’s numbers scratched into it. One number was that of her ex-mother-in-law Connie Morey. Lydia was in love with Connie’s son, Earl, because he made her laugh. After high school, they got married, but their relationship went sour quickly when Earl, instead of coming home for dinner, went directly to the bar. He came home each night drunk, then hit Lydia each night. When Luke was born, Earl threw her and the black-skinned baby out. She had one serious relationship after Earl with a man named Rex. June Reid, Luke’s girlfriend, made Luke reach out to...