Allison rushes home to tell Nellie about her new job; Nellie has been acting strangely for the past few weeks and believes she has contracted a disease. When Allison mentions that she is going to meet Norman Page, Nellie expresses disapproval of Norman and his relationship with his mother. Allison rebukes Nellie and leaves. She and Norman swim in the river together; Allison wants to explore her sexuality with Norman, but she is frustrated that he is not more assertive.

Rodney Harrington has grown into a smug and entitled teenager; he is still infatuated with Betty Anderson, and the two of them have sex near the lake. About five weeks later, in August, Betty tells him that she is pregnant and demands that he marry her.

Rodney tells his father that Betty is pregnant; when he explains that he doesn’t want to marry her, Leslie responds, “O.K. I’ll take care of it. You want a drink?” (208). A few days later, Leslie approaches Betty’s father (John) who works at the mill that Leslie owns. He gives John money and tells him to ensure Betty has an abortion; he also implies that John will lose his job if he objects.