Chapter Sixteen through Chapter Twenty-Four Summary

In chapter sixteen, David mentions he and Donny often spoke late into the evening about their dreams, hopes, and other topics, and he often was the last one to speak, long after Donny was asleep. He still has problems talking about his issues. He also admits he never had children because he and the other children will never be right after what they did, and didn't do. In chapter seventeen, David walks into the Chandler house to find Donny, Willie, and Woofer tickling Meg. When Woofer pinches her breast, however, Meg hits him. She storms from the house, and the boys tell Ruth. Ruth returns to the bedroom and asks Susan to tell the story. She does, and Ruth accuses her of helping Meg by not trying to stop her. She spanks Susan twenty times...