Chapters 39 and 40 Summary

In Chapter 39, the medical examiner finishes the autopsy on Mr. Carver and writes the cause of death as undetermined. Many people in the town still believe that Betty killed Ken because he had a big life insurance policy. Betty comes into Lamson Grocery with her sons on the way to the funeral. She allows the boys to have whatever they want. Gilbert thinks she is wearing the sexiest funeral dress and gets an erection while ringing up her purchases. Betty says Ken was filling up a wading pool when he had a heart attack, fell into the pool and drowned before the boys came to get her.

In Chapter 40, when Gilbert and Amy return from the funeral, Gilbert puts the Coke can that Betty threw her cigarette in up in his room, next to the cup he transferred Melanie's watermelon seeds...