Book 2, Part 7 Summary

When Rodney tells his father of the situation with Betty, the father, who employs Betty's father, calls Betty's father in and gives him money for Betty to have an abortion; failure to do so would end his employment. Later, Betty comes and yells at Rodney for not being willing to marry her.

The entire town talks about Betty and Rodney's situation. Constance and Makris talk of it and of Allison and Constance's hope that Allison would not have sex at such an early age. Makris pressures Constance to announce their marriage plans to Allison and to marry him sooner rather than later. Constance wants to wait a while longer.

Book 2, Part 7 Analysis

The first noteworthy element here is the second appearance in the narrative of an abortion, and the contrast in the way this one is handled to the way Selena's...