Part 4: West Seventy-Six - Mother Summary

Alice is now 30 years old. She is in a lawyer's office trying to determine how much money she owes to her "Walter's" estate. This causes her to think of hurtful people, but she tries to neutralize these thoughts with memories of kind people like Mr. Early and some of her college teachers of whom she was fond.

Mother has been moved to an assisted-living facility, which she calls "the Birdcage." To help with her own finances, Alice asks Mother to sign some bank documents that would presumably give Alice access to Mother's trust fund. Mother is dying, and she is looking more and more like Nonna.

One of Alice's rare visits to Mother in the assisted-living home is described. Mother barely recognizes Alice because she talks to Alice about Alice as though she weren't there...