Family

Through the relationships between Helen, Perley, Karen, Lily, and Rudy, ffitch questions traditional notions of family. In the first Part, these traditional narratives are introduced and then critiqued. The narrative begins with Helen describing her solitude after Shane leaves her. This opening suggests that Helen and her heterosexual relationship with Shane are the main focus, an assumption which is abruptly subverted by her suggestion to Karen and Lily that they move onto her property. From the start, confusion around the structure of the family unit defines the discussion of the move in together. Helen first suggests that their house will be “the perfect size for three,” which Lily immediately corrects to four (30). This confusion and conflict around the basic structure of the family — the number of members — hints at confusion around the structure of the family more broadly speaking. Helen's toast "[t]o family" is questioned...