Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

"The Pearl:"

As eighth-grade graduation approaches, Jake puts off writing a book report on "The Pearl," a short novel by John Steinbeck. He comments in narration on how sad and unhappy the story is, how it reminds him of the unhappiness of his situation at home, and how neither the book nor the situation seems to have any hope. His eventual attempt to work on the report is interrupted by the arrival of James and Aunt Marguerite for their regular Sunday dinner. While they eat, Jake notices that Marguerite has noticed that Skelly has some food on his chin, but hasn't wiped it off. Jake pointedly does so, and then gets into a whispered argument with James. Jake then describes, in narration, the "production," as he calls it, that wealthy divorcee Marguerite makes of writing the check for Mrs. Russell's pay...