In the present, Elaine tries again to call Ben, who doesn’t answer because he’s in Mexico. She looks through the phone book but can’t find the Campbells, Risleys, Josef Hrbik, or Cordelia. Lying in Jon’s bed reminds her of a time early in their relationship when another woman walked in and threw a bag full of spaghetti at them. Elaine hadn’t realized that the woman might have a good reason for her actions and was furious with her instead of upset with Jon.

The narrative returns to the Smeaths’ house, where Elaine is having dinner after church. She overhears Mrs. Smeath deriding Elaine’s family and calling Elaine a heathen. She knows how the other girls are treating Elaine and thinks God is punishing her. Mrs. Smeath notices Elaine listening but just smiles. Elaine pictures Mrs. Smeath’s bad heart floating in her body like an evil eye.

Elaine stops praying and singing along to the hymns. She feels like God is not on her side and can’t help her. When Grace notices she isn’t praying, she tells her to ask God for forgiveness as Grace herself does every night.