Part 1: Father - Mother Summary

Some of the vague details of Father's death are now revealed. Father drove off one night when Alice was 5 years old, and he never returned. Father died in the river that flows under Main Street. There is a hint that Father's death was possibly a suicide because there is the suggestion that Father was unhappy.

After falling ill, Arthur recovers and returns to driving Alice around. Alice shows concern for Arthur's health. If he looks tired, Alice asks him if he wants to rest and joins him for a nap in the car. Sometimes, they wake up hungry, and Alice expresses some worry about whether the chocolate that Arthur is about to eat will cause him harm.

More trips to Tucson are described. We discover how Alice adapts to life with Uncle Billy and Aunt Frances. With...