Contents
Thirty-Five
Overview
Arthur escorts his newly freed mother to shop for a halfway house and learns she intends to return to Black Cricket as a chaplain, igniting a bitter argument. Afterward, Tana calls: Ronnie and Jayne have fled west with Tana’s money. Arthur promises help, asks Gwen to drive Tana, and pleads that Tana not reveal their affair.
Summary
Arthur takes his newly paroled mother to buy essentials for a residential reentry center. He is incredulous that Erin must enter a halfway house and even more stunned when she declares she will not return to Dartmouth but pursue chaplaincy and advocacy at Black Cricket.
Arthur argues that Black Cricket is dangerous, recalling the Nighswanders and past abuses. In a heated call, he lashes out, cruelly invoking Officer Einaudi’s death, then hangs up and immediately regrets it, recognizing how far he has drifted from seeing himself as the “good guy.”
Tana then calls, furious: Ronnie and Jayne have taken the Ranchero and fled west, likely to Nevada, and cleaned out Tana’s hidden cash. Eight months pregnant, Tana worries about transport for work and the hospital. Arthur offers to help, promising a ride if needed, and tells her the coercive sexual bargaining that once surrounded her is over.
Tana relays that Ronnie wanted Arthur to know he’s sorry. Seeking a solution, Arthur proposes that Gwen drive Tana. Ashamed of his own neediness and duplicity, he asks Tana not to tell Gwen that he and Tana had sex. Tana taunts him, leaving whether she will keep the secret unresolved, and agrees to have Gwen call her.
Who Appears
- Arthur OakesProtagonist; clashes with his mother over her return to Black Cricket; arranges help for Tana and begs secrecy about their affair.
- Erin OakesArthur’s mother; freed on parole but assigned to a halfway house; intends to serve as a prison chaplain at Black Cricket.
- Tana NighswanderEight months pregnant; calls Arthur after Ronnie and Jayne flee with her cash; demands help and needles him about telling Gwen.
- Ronnie NighswanderOffstage; flees west with Jayne in the Ranchero, taking Tana’s money; sends Arthur an apology through Tana.
- JayneOffstage; flees with Ronnie out west, worsening Tana’s situation and escalating fallout from earlier confrontations.
- GwenOffstage; potential driver for Tana at Arthur’s request; unknowingly at risk of learning about Arthur and Tana’s affair.