Part 2, Chapter 14 Summary

Mick is about to be pushed into the outside world for real. The family's situation is dire, and she takes a job at Woolworth's for $10 a week. They think she is fortunate to have this opportunity, but she sees it as a death sentence. Though they all say it is temporary to help the family, she knows deep down that it will extend for as long as she can see. Once they get used to her money, she can never stop bringing it home. She thinks about the clothes and music she could buy, but she doesn't let her mind linger there for long.

Instead, Mick obsesses about Mr. Singer. She follows him to work every day, and she waits to hear him come home at night. She even makes a nuisance of herself with too many visits to his room...