ONLINE STUDY NOTES / STUDY GUIDE: THE CIDER HOUSE RULES

CHAPTER 10 - Fifteen Years

Summary

Lorna and Melony lived together for 15 years. They served as superintendents of the woman-only boarding house in which they lived. Melony had learned plumbing and electricity from working in the shipyards, and Lorna continued to work on the assembly line. Lorna also became more domestic and feminine. Melony found her increasingly passive, and Lorna refused to fight. In 15 years, Melony had only been arrested once, when a man called her a dyke, but the charge of assault was dropped to disturbance of the peace.

Then, Lorna told Melony she was pregnant. Melony packed Lorna’s bag and sent her to St. Cloud’s. Melony had not been angry for 15 years and was surprised how quickly her anger had returned. When Lorna returned, Melony had packed her things, so she moved out. They saw each other occasionally, but only spoke once. Melony wanted to know if Nurse Grogan and Larch were still alive. Melony was rich but didn’t live like it. She made good money as an electrician and as superintendent; she lived almost rent free. She didn’t own a car and bought all her clothes at Sam’s Army-Navy Men’s Store.

Melony had kept a newspaper article describing Wally’s rescue and receipt of the Purple Heart. She had it framed and hung it over her bed.

For 15 years, Homer had written and posted the unobeyed cider house rules. Mr. Rose continued each year to bring a picking crew and for a while he came with a large, soft, quiet woman and his baby girl.

Fifteen years ago, Candy had made rules for them. They agreed to share Angel, to live together, and not to move out no matter what, even if Candy chose Wally. They would be a family.

For 15 years, the board of trustees tried to replace Larch, but no one wanted to go to St. Cloud’s. The board couldn’t find a nurse or..........

Notes

For 15 years, Homer and Candy keep their secret. They live by Candy’s rules. Rules that allow them to share Angel, live together, and even have sex. Here, we have another situation of an individual’s rules taking precedence over society’s rules of acceptable behavior. Even Melony, a woman who lives by her own unacceptable rules, finds Homer’s behavior appalling. Melony’s disappointment at.........

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