Visits
- It's the summer before Meridian arrives in Chicokema, the small town where we find her at the start of the novel. Lynne has just arrived at Meridian's house.
- Lynne and Meridian haven't seen each other "since the death of Lynne and Truman's daughter, Camara, a year earlier" (2.19.1). Truman, of course, is already there.
- Meridian is getting sicker and sicker, although she hides it well. She's even started to wear a little cap after she begins to bald prematurely.
- Lynne is upset for a lot of reasons: she's broke, exhausted, and convinced that there is "something between" Truman and Meridian (2.19.16).
- Truman has just walked into the backyard, camera in hand. Lynne rushes outside to meet him. They get into a nasty argument, each mocking the other's racial biases. Meridian tries to leave, but gets caught up in the aftermath of their argument.
- That night, Lynne and Meridian are alone inside the house. Lynne is "crying into the pillows of the couch" and apologizing for freaking out (2.19.71).
- Things aren't going well for Lynne in New York. It seems like she's been getting into lots of drugs and sex.
- Lynne had called her parents after Camara's death—it was the first time they had talked in a long time. It didn't go well, to say the least.
- Then Lynne drops a bombshell—she claims that she was raped, and that Truman let it happen. Although Meridian tries to ignore her, Lynne starts telling her story anyway.