Summary

In "We Washed the Novel," Helen reaches into the washing machine to realize that she washed Tom Jones. She laughs at this. In "Names," Helen remembers a story she read when she was pregnant about a girl who stole a rose. The author of the story said that the stealing was a private glory. This story is part of why Helen chose the name for Rose - she thought that perhaps the name could give Rose that glory, and she would never feel the need to steal anything.

Helen once told an acquaintance about a story of two children who live high up in adjacent buildings. Between them is a connecting ledge with yellow roses, and the kids play on this ledge. One day the boy sees the Snow Queen and is turned into ice. The girl is...