Chapter 13
by Erin & Rose
SummaryLindsey goes back to school in the fall, not only the sister of the murdered girl, but the daughter of a “crackpot”. Buckley began kindergarten and fell in love with his teacher because she treated him differently-the sister of the murdered girl.
After Mr. Salmon’s surgery he begins to recuperate, and Buckley is so interested in his “fake knee” that the two begin to bond. Meanwhile Mrs. Salmon begins to live two lives: the one were she enjoys being a mother and focusing on her children and the other where she thinks about Len.
Mr. Salmon began staying home more, using his knee as an excuse. His boss was beginning to treat him differently. He set his return date back to work for December 2, so he would be there by the anniversary of Susie’s disappearance. He wanted to be distracted and to get away from Mrs. Salmon.
Lindsey was continuing the beauty regime her grandmother gave her and Mr. Salmon tries to carry Buckley on his back again. While practicing this, the boys walk in on Lindsey trying to shave her legs. He sends Buckley to his room and teaches Lindsey how to shave. They start to talk about Susie and George Harvey. Lindsey asks if he believes Harvey did it and he tells her there’s no doubt in his mind. Lindsey asks why he doesn’t tell the cops to arrest Harvey, and Mr. Salmon tells her they can’t without evidence of something to link Harvey to Susie. They silently agree that Lindsey should break into Harvey’s house.
On Thanksgiving, Grandma Lynn comes over and after observing the family, realizes there is something going on with Mrs. Salmon. To talk to her, Grandma Lynn offers to help with the dishes; something she’s never done before. She tells her they need to take a walk because she has suspicions she can’t talk about at the house. Grandma Lynn begins telling Mrs. Salmon about an affair Mrs. Salmon’s father had years and years ago. She tells her that Susie’s death made her remember her husband and that she never mourned him properly. They talk more, and she asks her daughter to stop seeing the man she’s seeing. Mrs. Salmon denies she is seeing anyone and they smell cigarettes and decide to go find whoever is smoking. They find Ruana Singh who has sunk outside for this cigarette, and she and Mrs. Salmon smoke. Ray is upstairs, smelling the tobacco and listening to the party his father is having. He starts reading but is really thinking about Susie and the almost kiss they had on the scaffolding. Grandma Lynn heads back to the house. As she passes Harvey’s house she realizes that Mr. Salmon is right; this is the man who killed Susie.
Questions:
How do you think Lindsey is coping with going back to school?
What do you think about Mr. Salmon agreeing that Lindsey should break into Harvey's house?
Author