Summary

Chapter 23 begins a new part, “The Collective Need,” which takes place in August 2012. At the prison, Rich escorts the men on his block down the corridor and into the visitors lounge. Today, he walks Calvin Weems into the room to visit his mother, Rena.

After work, Rich heads to Walmart to buy bottled water. He has agreed to use bottled water for drinking and cooking only; the cost eats away at his salary, the only income they have. When he gets home, there is a letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection. The DEP has confirmed a “presence of natural gas” and urged the Devlins “to be vigilant of changes [...] that could indicate an increased concentration of methane” (325). Inside, Shelby washes dishes with bottled water, uses them for the kid’s laundry. She has no regard for the cost, and she does...