Summary

Faith, a mother of two children, Richard and Tonto, made eggs for her two ex-husbands, Livid and Pallid. Livid searched fruitlessly for some alcohol. Faith began to work on her embroidery while she reflected on the past. Livid, who was Richard and Tonto’s biological father, had written a letter to Pallid, who was married to Faith at the time, giving him permission to consider Richard and Tonto to be treated as Pallid’s own children. Pallid had responded with joy. However, Pallid had had trouble convincing the children to “play in their own room” (128).

In present day, Livid told Faith that he met with Clifford, Faith’s boyfriend. Livid told Faith that he was going to marry a “darling girl” (128), whom Livid described in intricate detail. Livid then warned Faith of young schoolgirls who could take Faith’s partners away...