Jeannette feels deep guilt for what she believes is her failure of Maureen. She had promised to protect her when she carried the baby girl home after she was born. So, for her seventh birthday, the other kids save for a month in order to buy Maureen a toy set of kitchen appliances that are very realistic. Maureen is very curious about California, because even though she was born there, she has no memories of living there. Jeannette tells her that she obviously was born there, because she has golden blonde hair like the sunny skies of California and blue eyes like the ocean. Because she has no basis for comparison, Maureen likes living in Welch more than the other kids. She makes friends easily, and many of her friends are Pentecostals determined to save her from negligent parents. As a result, she develops a powerful religious streak, but when Brian says she should be kept away from those nutty people, Mom refuses. She insists that we all come to religion in our individual ways, and it's up to each person to find his or her own way to heaven.
Jeannette is beginning to be very annoyed by her mother's moods. Her positive thoughts are always overtaken by negative ones that seem to sweep into her mind the way a big black flock of crows takes over the landscape. Rose Mary eventually has a complete meltdown and is unable to finish her student evaluations. As a result, the remedial program will probably not be funded. Mom sobs that she hates her life. As she sobs, Lori attempts to comfort her, while Brian just leaves the room and Jeannette stands in the doorway with her arms crossed. She can't believe that this woman boohooing like a five year old is her mother. At that moment, Jeannette swears that she will never allow herself to become like Mom. Lori says later that Mom has it tough, because she married a man like Dad. But Jeannette has no sympathy: Mom needs to learn how to be firmer. Dad needs a strong woman. Lori disagrees; there is no woman strong enough in her mind to stand up to Dad.
Jeannette decides she is the only one who can get Dad under control, but she will be proven wrong. When Mom goes to Charleston, West Virginia, in the summer to spend eight weeks taking courses to renew her certificate, and Lori goes to summer camp, Jeannette becomes the head of the house and decides it's her opportunity to manage Dad. Unfortunately, nothing goes the way she wants. She finds herself giving Dad money whenever he asks for it, and even when he doesn't even do her the honor of pretending he needs the money for something useful. He knows she doesn't have it in her to say no to him.
However, Jeannette feels used and abused, and she doesn't even realize how much more he will do to reinforce the feeling. He insists, Have I ever let you down? Jeannette wants to tell him YES a million times, but again she doesn't have the courage she thinks she does. He also promises to pay her back, because she controls the budget for the rest of kids. Does Jeannette know he is a liar? She just keeps hoping he's true to his word.
The Saturday after his first borrowing of money, Dad comes in and tells Jeannette he needs her to go with him to recoup the money he has taken. He calls it a business trip, but they arrive at a dark and dingy bar. He and Jeannette sit at the bar, and Dad orders two beers even though Jeannette has asked for a Sprite. Then, Dad gets up to play pool and a man with a black moustache takes his place beside Jeannette. He insists she dance with him and thinks she looks seventeen. He flirts with her and puts his arm around her, but Dad does nothing to stop his liberties with Jeannette. He just tells the guy to do something useful with his hands by playing pool with him. Dad is soon $80 ahead, and his advice to Jeannette is just to keep her legs crossed tightly. Dad wins the game and gives his okay for the man to take Jeannette upstairs to his apartment. There are two other men in the apartment, but the man doesn't send them away. He just starts pawing Jeannette. She resists him, but she doesn't scream, because she is so angry she can't stand the thought of Dad rescuing her. The guy begins to give up, claiming she's too skinny. Jeannette then shows him her scar so that he'll be even more turned off. Jeannette quickly leaves.
On the way home, Dad gives Jeannette forty dollars, which she only keeps,
because she knows the other kids need it. She feels dirty and sleazy,
because they had scammed the other man. Dad had set both of them up to
help himself. She tells Dad that the creep at the bar had attacked her.
However, Dad isn't at all concerned. He knew she could handle herself.
Jeannette just notices that the road back to Welch is dark and empty.
This section is completely about Dad and how he has always manipulated
and scammed everyone, including the one child, Jeannette, who believes
in him the most. Just like Mom and her sobs and meltdowns, Dad's behavior
is just a reflection of how irresponsible and selfish he has always been
and always will be. Lori is right and Jeannette is wrong. There is no
woman strong enough to control him, and he will continue to hurt everyone
who loves him and many other people as well.
A few days after Dad has used Jeannette to scam guys at the pool table, he comes home and wants her to pull the same scam again. However, this time, Jeannette refuses, so Dad demands money from her, and once again, she gives in. She even falls for his cheap trick to hide Mom's lease check. When she returns to the hiding place, of course, it is gone. All of this convinces Jeannette she needs her own job.
Jeannette goes into Becker's Jewel Box after she sees a help wanted sign in the store's window. She loves the interior with all its beautiful jewelry, fancy atmosphere, and air conditioning. Because she's afraid that Mr. Becker won't give her the job if he knows she's only thirteen, she lies about her age, saying she's seventeen. He hires her on the spot, and Jeannette has her first real job.
Jeannette really likes the work, and she's kept busy, because Becker's has plenty of customers. During slow spells, they watch the Watergate Hearings together. Mr. Becker is very impressed with John Dean's wife, Maureen, whose beauty makes him a little randy. Then, he walks up behind Jeannette and rubs his belly against her behind. She quickly learns that all she has to do is push him away and then walk away herself, and he goes right back to the TV, no feelings hurt.
When Mr. Becker goes across the street to the Mountaineer Diner for lunch, he usually takes the key to the display case that holds the diamonds. Once he forgets the key and then makes a great show of counting all the gems in the case when he returns, making it apparent that he doesn't trust her. One time, after he pulls this trick, it angers Jeannette so much that she starts casing the store for anything that is really worth stealing. She falls in love with a watch that has four different colored bands to match any outfit. It costs $29.95, so Jeannette thinks of it only as a luxury out of her reach. However, one incident changes her mind. Mr. Becker's employee from War stops by and Mr. Becker asks her to give Jeannette some tips for wearing make-up. During their conversation, Jeannette learns that this woman makes a 10% commission on every sale she makes in addition to her $40.00 a week salary. Jeannette doesn't make that much money and has been used by Mr. Becker, just as badly as Dad has. She decides she'll just have that watch after all.
So, when Mr. Becker retreats to the diner, Jeannette just takes the
watch with the colored bands. She puts it in her purse, rearranges the
display case to hide its disappearance and goes about her job. She is
later able to leave the store, and Mr. Becker never suspects a thing.
However, Jeannette soon discovers that there is nowhere she can ever wear
the watch without being questioned, and her sense of doing what is right
kicks in. She carefully returns the watch to the display case, which causes
her to break out in a sweat. Ironically, she was cool as a cucumber when
she stole the watch, and now she is terrified that someone will catch
her putting it back.
What's interesting about this section is how Dad and Mr. Becker are so much alike. Neither of them trusts Jeannette and yet neither deserves her trust. Also, they both use and manipulate her for their own ends: Dad's uses her budding sexuality to win money at pool while Mr. Becker paws her to provide sexual pleasure for himself. They both also steal from her: Dad demands money and then tricks her to get it while Mr. Becker won't pay Jeannette a commission like he does with his other employees.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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