Chapter 3 takes place during the same summer as the previous chapter. A few days after the episode with Earl Stambach, Leroy's father, Ep, returns home after having been in a fight with another local man who described Eps's sons Leroy and Ted as stupid. As Ep recounts the story, he refers to the man with whom he fought as a bastard, a term that Molly is particularly sensitive to.
Jennifer, Leroy's mother, is in the advanced stages of pregnancy. Although Carrie notices that Jennifer seems to be losing weight, no one else seems to be concerned. Jennifer goes into the hospital to have the baby, a little boy named Carl. The baby only lives for two days. One night, shortly after the baby's death, Molly and Leroy overhear the adults talking.....
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