How It All Goes Down
- Jeanette worries about her younger sister, Maureen, who has started hanging out at churches where they speak in tongues.
- Jeannette is also concerned about Mom's mood swings, and about how she often refuses to go to work.
- However, Mom does decide to take an eight-week college course to renew her teaching certificate.
- Mom leaves Jeannette in charge and gives her $200 to last the two months.
- Jeannette believes this is an opportunity to prove to the family that it is possible to stand up to Dad and not give him money.
- Then Jeannette gives Dad five dollars. That didn't last long.
- Dad asks for twenty, and Jeannette gives that to him, too.
- Later, Dad says he can pay her back, but they'll have to earn the money.
- And by "earn it," Dad basically means that Jeannette will have to prostitute herself: he sends her by herself into a room full of drunk men after he wins some money off them in a pool game.
- One of the men forces himself on Jeannette, but he backs off when she shows him her burn scars.
- Jeannette is upset with Dad, but he says, "I knew you could handle yourself" (3.21.68).
- That vote of confidence doesn't make Jeannette feel any better.