Chapter 8 Summary

The art teacher agrees to take Ellen in temporarily. Her name is Julia and her husband's name is Roy. Here, Ellen is exposed to a variety of new things, like the movies. Ellen stays in the guest room, knowing she won't be there for long. The kids at school begin talking about Ellen's situation.

Ellen begins to enjoy being part of a normal family, laughing, displaying affection and having an all-around good time. Julia encourages Ellen to "let it all hang out," thereby imposing a bit of psychiatry on the girl. Ellen thinks Julia and her husband are "off their rockers" but Julia explains that they are just happy.

Julia and Roy moved to the South from the Northeast so she could teach and he could "do his thing" in a peaceful setting. Julia used to be a flower child. Julia admits that...