Chapters 17-18 Summary

During the summer, money for food runs out. Annie cashes out her bank account and Carl once again pawns his watch. Yet Annie spends some money foolishly on things that are not necessary. Carl finds one job drafting a will for a friend of the principal's. He receives food from the farmer as payment. In order to save money, Carl also switches from cigarettes to a pipe. Finally, after jealously watches the Dog chew on a bone from the grocer, Carl applies for a job at the all-female lamp factory.

Pulaski, the manager of the factory tells Carl he has no job for a man. Carl then writes to his mother for a loan, but she quickly responds, assuring Carl that she has no extra money. Just when Annie is about to charge their food to a store account, Pulaski calls...