Summary

In Chapter 2 – “Drilling” – Jean poisoned herself and the baby twins when she found out that she was pregnant again. Chris left college as a result and felt that one version of herself – the version that loved books and learning – died along with her mother.

John’s sister, Janet, and her husband, Tam, came to visit and offered to take Alex and Dod home with them, on the condition that they be allowed to adopt them. John agreed and the boys moved to Aberdeen. Will told Chris that he wanted to move to Canada.

One day a “tink” – a derogatory term used to refer to Gypsies and other itinerant people – came to the farm and asked John for work. John told the man he had to sleep in the barn. Chris took the laborer some food to the barn and the laborer told...