Summary

In Part II, Chapter 21, Civil tries to explain to Anne what happened to the Williams sisters. She begins by describing her childhood and upbringing. Her family tried “to live dignified in undignified times,” embracing education as survival (141).

After the car accident, Civil’s parents take her to the hospital. Once Civil is cleared she has Alicia and Ty take her to Professional Hospital, explaining what happened to the Williamses. At the hospital, Civil talks to Mace about what happened. She discovers that he and Val signed “the consent papers” for the girls’ procedures (147). Civil blames herself, as India cannot speak and Mace cannot read.

In Chapter 22, Civil goes to see Mrs. Ralsey about the Williamses’ case. Civil reveals that she “switched them from the shots to the . . . pills” without informing Seager (149). Ralsey and Daddy wonder if the girls could “have a...