Summary

Chapter 9. This chapter starts out with Joan looking at a photo of her Aunt and her. She remembers Arthur asking her who the “fat one” was. Joan lies and tells her that the fat one is her other aunt, Aunt Deidre. Throughout high school Joan remains heavy, but makes friends based on her “great personality.” She lived vicariously through the popular girls and found that they liked her because she was not a threat, and due to her size, they felt safe.

Joan gets a job working at a diner as a cashier. The cook, a foreigner she thinks is Greek or Italian, flirts with her and makes her extra special meals during break times. He asks her to coffee, she consents and he proceeds to ask her to marry him and help him run a restaurant. Joan is momentarily flattered and imagines a life...