Chapters 30, 31 and 32 Summary

Chapter 30 - Rascal of God - Alone with her thoughts, Laura reflects on how she's caught between Essie and Buddy - one too holy, the other not holy enough. Buddy comes in, and Laura asks whether he took a hundred dollar bill out of her pocketbook. He admits he did, she accuses him of spending it on his "bitch," he tells her to watch her language, and then explains that the "bitch" is actually a talented singer whom Marty is bankrolling in the belief that she'll have a great career. Laura speaks threateningly about the singer, but when Buddy speaks crudely about how young the singer is, Laura becomes very calm, and says she's going to put her pocketbook in Essie's coat pocket to keep it safe. Narration describes how her hand lingers in the pocket as Laura wonders quietly about...