Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

In Chapter Seven, "The Mouth of It," Joe is transported to the Charlestown Penitentiary with two other inmates. One of them, Norman, is a 17 year-old convicted of statutory rape for having sex with a 15 year-old girl. Norman is terrified and starts crying. The next day in the prison yard, Norman has two black eyes and a broken nose. Without warning, he attacks Joe, who breaks Norman's leg. Joe realizes he is being tested by someone, and worries about protecting his ribs, several of which are broken. Back in the cell, his three cellmates have been moved out. Everyone in the prison avoids Joe, walking away when he approaches and never speaking to him. Joe asks the prison guard what is going on, and is told only that he is "in the mouth of it." In the shower line, a young man...