Children of Silence, Chapters 14, 15, 16 and 17 Summary

Maureen's innocence begins to erode as Loretta forces her to give back rubs to Pat, Maureen's new stepfather. Maureen is also forced to cook and wait up for Pat who comes home drunk every night while Loretta goes to bed. Going to the library is still Maureen's only method of escape and she associates the quiet stillness with a life she hopes to have one day away from the family.

One night, it occurs to Maureen that she must get money immediately so she can leave. Loretta and Pat have prohibited her from getting a job because it will take Maureen away from running the household, so Maureen turns to prostitution. Maureen meets the same men several times a week and hides the cash she receives in books in her room because she knows no...