Chapter 18 Summary

Barbara waits until Sheba leaves her room, and then she sneaks in to retrieve her manuscript. Once she is in the room, Barbara is not at all surprised by how messy it is. She finds the manuscript on Sheba's desk and turns to leave. She sees the sculpture Sheba has been working on and moves closer to inspect it. Barbara's stomach turns when she sees it.

The sculpture of a mother and child is modeled after Sheba and Steven. The statue is larger than Barbara thought it would be, nearly three feet tall. The mother has Sheba's long thin arms and legs. It also has Sheba's face and messy hair. Barbara describes the child as a "hideous, pink boy-man spilling fatly across her lap." Barbara immediately recognizes him as Steven. Barbara considers the statue utterly obscene.

Sheba discovers Barbara in her room and...