Chapter 11-12, Ordinary People Summary

Chapter 11. In this chapter, Cal bumps into Joe Lazenby's mother and invites her to lunch. As they chat, Carole talks about Beth and her amazing organizational skills. The conversation causes Cal to think about their early years and how out of control she had been with two small children in the house. With friends, Beth laughs those years off, but Cal remembers the hysterics she exhibited when the kids made a mess. The outbursts were so monumental that the whole family became perfectionists so as to keep her happy.

Cal and Beth talk about getting Conrad a car for his Christmas/birthday present. Beth is less than enthusiastic and declines going with Cal to pick the car out. The encounter causes him to recall a conversation he had with his law partner's wife years ago in which...