Summary

“1968” began by indicating that Etta had moments of clarity in which she tried to be a good mother to Cecilia. She decided to make Cecilia a dress for her middle school dance, but when it was completed, it was too small. She became angry, ordering Cecilia to wear it anyway. But it was impossible for her to wear. When Cecilia ignored Etta’s screams, she realized the power she held over her mother’s anger. Etta shoddily fixed the dress, which Cecilia wore to the next dance.

Violet turned one year old in Chapter 21, and the celebration went well. But Violet stopped sleeping through the nights again in Chapter 22. An exhausted Blythe claimed that Violet recoiled at her touch and acted out only in her care. Other mothers recognized Blythe’s struggle in public, embarrassing her. She hinted that she wanted Violet to go...