Chapter 9 Summary

In Chapter Nine, we find Zoe attempting to celebrate Halloween, alone, at her house in Oakwood. Although the recent arguments and her fright at seeing Simon had left her badly shook up, the onslaught of trick or treaters forces the girl to join in the spirit of the night. She uses up all of the treats in the house and in the end resorts to giving pennies as she dresses herself in a long black ball gown with the crucifix her friend gave her previously, with organ music playing in the background. After the festivities have died down Zoe phones her friend Lorraine to try and reconcile their friendship, but discovers that Lorraine is at her natural mother's house, possibly for the last time in a long while. A further phone call to her mother's friend Carol leaves Zoe feeling even more isolated...