Summary

Tom Arlen walks quietly to the front porch and gets the newspaper. Jack is still asleep in the spare bedroom, and has said that he doesn’t follow the news, that he’s sure of what he saw and what he did. Tom’s not as sure, though. Today, he knows, is the day that they will bury the dead boy, Tariq Johnson.

Jennica goes to have her hair done at the beauty salon. Kimberly does her hair. Jennica is sporting sunglasses because Noodle had become upset with her the night before and had handled her roughly. Though ‘roughly’ is a euphemism that she thinks doesn’t do justice to the beating he’d given her. The stylist works quickly and doesn’t ask any questions about the bruises on Jennica’s neck. Jennica comforts herself telling herself that Noodle didn’t know...