Chapter 10 Summary

During her senior year in high school, Julie begins to write some poetry and short fiction pieces and asks Uncle Haskell's advice in critiquing her work. This diversion becomes especially important for Uncle Haskell, who discovers that he is dying from cirrhosis of the liver brought on by so many years of alcohol abuse. Julie is hesitant to engage Uncle Haskell further in her amateurish work, but Aunt Cordelia feels that it is good for Uncle Haskell to have some purpose at this point in his life.

Julie enjoys moderate success, when one of her stories is published in a university magazine, and the entire family supports her efforts and celebrates with her. Uncle Haskell shies away from a family gathering preferring the silence of the woods to the chatter of the family voices, and Julie makes a point to rise early to...