Cecilia Gay's nickname is Cissy. She is the daughter of the town drunk, Roaring Abel. Cissy goes away to work at a restaurant one summer and comes back pregnant. She never divulges the name of the father. Her baby lives for a year and dies. Cissy ends up drinking so much alcohol that she contracts an illness in her lungs that eventually kills Cissy.
Valancy goes to work and live with Cissy to be her caretaker. More than anything, Valancy and Cissy become companions and friends.
