59 pages • 1 hour read
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Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Having just screamed obscenities at an empty chair, Eleanor is surprised when her session has ended and Dr. Temple releases her back to the real world. Eleanor drinks vodka at a nearby pub and goes home to sleep in the middle of the day.
She and Raymond continue to meet for lunch. Raymond asks Eleanor where her Mummy is; Eleanor relays that she’s in prison but that she doesn’t know her mother’s crime. Eleanor also tells Raymond that Oliphant isn’t her actual surname. Raymond offers to look up what Mummy did, but Eleanor dismisses the idea.
During another lunch, Eleanor tells Raymond how her Mummy has traveled the world and enjoyed death-defying adventures. Raymond points out that Mummy’s exploits don’t sound responsible, since she was supposed to be caring for Eleanor during that time.
Mummy calls, and Eleanor asks her how old she was when Eleanor was born. Mummy replies that she was 20 years old and changes the subject by insulting her daughter. Eleanor tells Mummy about the leave of absence from work due to depression. She also shares that she’s seen a therapist, and Mummy threatens her in a whisper. The phone line cuts off, and Eleanor notes that her mother sounded both scary and scared.
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