Chapters 16 & 17 Summary

In Chapter 16, Looking for My Mules (Viviane, 1991), Vivi still sneaks cocktails all day but tries to hid it from Big Shep, who quit 6 months ago. One day near sunset she sees an elderly African American man wandering down their lane. The man says that he is looking for his mules, Sary and Mike. At first, Big Shep is angry at the trespasser. Then he realizes that the man has dementia,and Shep is respectful and kind. Shep phones the sheriff and asks them to send a black police officer to collect the man, who appears to have wandered away from a nursing home. As she walks back up the steps behind Big Shep Vivi thinks "Oh God...it's such a good life, but it hurts!"

In Chapter 17, The First Imperfect Divine Compassion Baptism Video (Siddalee, 1991) Sidda returns to Thornton to be godmother for...