Summary

In Chapter 7, Gwendy notices that her parents have not only quit drinking but also that they have fallen back in love with each other. Gwendy’s mother tells her that they had really made no conscious decision to stop drinking; in fact, they had not even talked about it. Gwendy credits the changes in her family to the button box. She thinks that the box is like an umbrella that will keep the family protected. Everything will be okay as long as she takes care of the box. She thinks its power will keep away any wind that might turn the umbrella of protection inside out.

In Chapter 8, Frankie meets Gwendy at the curb near her house and asks if she wants to go for a ride with him. She smells marijuana mixed with Frankie’s body odor. She has heard a rumor...