Chapter Ten Summary

Eugene tells the reader that once there was a time when he didn't even notice Athena prison across the lake from the college where he taught. In fact, he says 15 years went by before the prison even entered into his mind. And that was only because three prisoners had escaped and he had noticed them attempting to rather poorly pass themselves as locals. They were quickly captured, but Eugene at least knew from that point forward the prison was an actual concern housing actual humans, not just a deliberately unseen entity he forced himself to block out. He relates how his son, Eugene Jr., was the spitting image of himself when they used to walk the streets of the tiny town. That is, until Eugene Jr. grew up and refused to ever speak to Eugene again. Mildred, his wife, and Margaret...