How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Tuna lowered her voice so Derek wouldn't hear. "I'm really sorry for all this. You don't know how sorry."
"It's not your fault," Wahoo said.
"I'm the one who dragged you guys into this mess. I should never have run away. I should have stayed hidden at the Walmart." (23.90-92)
Besides tearing up a family, alcoholism can cause everyone else to feel shame and guilt, as if what the alcoholic family member does is their fault. Tuna certainly feels responsible for the situation even though Wahoo realizes that it isn't her fault at all.
Quote #8
"Maybe it was an accident, like you said."
"No, he's totally gone off the deep end. What if he kills someone, Lance?"
"Wahoo didn't look up. "My father can take care of himself."
"Well, my father…" Tuna laughed bitterly. "My father can't even take care of breakfast—" (23.98-101)
Tuna realizes that her father is now past all boundaries of human decency and that he could, at any moment, do something totally unforgivable. Actually, he already has. Also, we see the contrast between Mickey and Jared. While Mickey can fend for himself in the Everglades with wit and skill, Jared is incapable of basic needs like making food.
Quote #9
"But if the pills are only sugar, why do you need them?"
"Oh, I feed 'em to Daddy. Sometimes it quiets him down," Tuna said. "He gets lots of 'headaches,' too. And back pains, chest pains, neck pains, you name it. He thinks Raguserup is some sort of fantastic miracle drug. That, and the booze." (24.41-42)
If there is anything we've learned about alcohol so far, it is that the mind is affected as much as the body. In order to have an excuse to drink more, Jared thinks he is always in pain and needs alcohol to feel better. Also, the alcohol probably causes a lot of pain by damaging internal organs and his brain.