How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
She had on her red lipstick. Her hair was up on top of her head in a new way. It looked like she had spent a lot of time putting it in its new place. Her eyelashes curled up again but she had on her usual green housecoat instead of a dress. As soon as she opened the door I could smell she had been drinking her whiskey.
How nice to see my sweet paperboy. (9.38-39)
Mrs. Worthington is a super glamorous and beautiful woman, but even her attractiveness can't hide the fact that she's drunk. Victor knows she's been at the whiskey again as soon as she opens the door.
Quote #8
I watched her gulp down the last big swallow of her whiskey drink but when she went to put the glass back on the table she only got it halfway before it fell to the rug. The glass didn't break like the one on the porch. It just rolled around spilling the nearly melted ice cubes. (9.72)
Mrs. Worthington doesn't even stop drinking when she invites Victor inside the house. As he watches her drink and spill her whiskey, he doesn't know what to do. He wants to help her somehow, but she's too far gone.
Quote #9
I don't know how long I had been in Mrs. Worthington's house but it was getting dark enough for Mam to start worrying. I sure didn't want her to come looking for me. I got up from the couch. (9.81-82)
Wow—Mrs. Worthington's drinking is so excessive that she actually passes out in front of Victor after inviting him into her house. Even to a kid like Victor, who doesn't have a lot of experience being around people with substance abuse problems, it's obvious that Mrs. Worthington is a real life alcoholic.