Summary

Michigan, p. 201 – 246. The writing in this section of the book is more fragmented than elsewhere in the narrative, with relatively short glimpses of moments or situations as opposed to lengthy descriptions. The structure of this section of summary reflects this fragmentation.

In the aftermath of the house party, Cat writes, her mother lost all her cleaning jobs, not just that with the Hodsons. This left the family struggling financially, to the point where they had to go on the food stamp program. Cat comments that she never talked with her mother about the Hodsons, but adds that she (Cat) suspected her mother knew what had happened at the house.

The relationship between Jimmy and Marlena got hot and heavy, until Cat asked Marlena to back off. At this point, Cat writes, she thought that Marlena was off the pills: she (Cat) still...