Beverly, Right Here

Iola puts on the wax lips, and her big glasses and mouth make Beverly laugh. Maureen exits her trailer to make sure everything’s fine. She harangues Beverly again, so Beverly tells her to shut up. Maureen threatens to call Iola’s son, Tommy Junior, and Iola reaffirms that Beverly is part of her family. Beverly wonders if Iola thinks she’s a fraud. Iola doesn’t think she’s a fraud, but Beverly reminds her that Iola doesn’t know Beverly. Iola claims she knows Beverly. Iola says everything will be OK, and she makes Beverly a tuna melt.

Outside Mr. C’s, Jerome confronts Beverly about the tassel, but Beverly evades his questions. Mr. Denby summons her to his office, and Jerome makes an odious quip about her helping Mr. Denby count “all his money” (97).

Outside Zoom City, Beverly stares at the coin-operated horse, and Elmer says he’ll give Beverly a dime to ride it. Mr. Larksong, an older person with a cane, arrives, and he swears he’ll buy cigarettes today. Elmer says cigarettes aren’t the answer, and Larksong asks Beverly if she knows the answer. Beverly doesn’t know the answer, and Larksong praises her honesty.