Summary

Chapter 16 describes the death of Wullie. Shortly thereafter, Lizzie passes away after committing suicide by falling into an oncoming bus. At the wake for Lizzie's body, Agnes makes cosmetic improvements to the body. She applies lipstick and places her own earrings into her mother's ears. At the reception, Agnes makes it a point to serve sandwiches with meat so as not to appear cheap. Later at the reception Leek calls Catherine on the phone in order to tell her about their grandparents' deaths. Catherine refuses to speak with Agnes when Leek asks if she would like to.

Chapter 17 begins with Agnes awakening in a daze. She does not know where Shuggie is. Shuggie has taken care to arrange things for his mother before leaving for school. As Agnes remembers what she did the previous night, she remembers playing bingo, and coming home in...