Chapters 2 through 6 Summary

In Chapter 2, Mama finishes getting ready for her bridge club gathering and leaves Lark with the "Monkey Wards" (p. 7 and 8) catalog and her fantasies about what takes place on bridge club night. Lark is especially interested in the stories that circulate regarding Hilly Stillman, a wounded World War veteran who went from local hero status to mentally ill in a matter of a few years. One Hilly rumor had one of his mother's young cousins living with them and helping out with baby Hilly, when she got pregnant. This brought shame to the family as the girl was not married. Mrs. Stillman almost lost her job as a third grade teacher. At a sodality meeting, Mama apparently expressed her opinion that she hoped the man was married and gave the girl enough money to get to California, where maybe she made...