Dumplin

Willowdean joins Millie, Amanda, and Hannah to talk about their talents for the talent show. They talk about other pageant expectations as well. Amanda brings up the fact that everyone but them dressed up for the registration. Willowdean fills them in on the dress they are expected to wear, the talent show, and the interview portion of the competition. Hannah replies: “We are so fucked. Your mom runs the whole thing and that’s all you’ve got?” (173).

Mitch invites Willowdean to his house to watch movies. Mitch’s mother is welcoming; she tells Willowdean: “Mitch said you were pretty, but he didn’t say gorgeous” (176). Mitch and Willowdean watch a movie in Mitch’s room. Mitch leaves the door open at the request of his mother. Instead of watching the movie, Willowdean watches Mitch’s hand grow closer to her own hand. After the movie, Will and Mitch get tacos. Mitch admits that he doesn’t love football as much as everyone thinks he does. He tells Will that he feels pressure from his father and the town. Once, while hunting when Mitch was a child, Mitch killed a deer. His father was proud of him, but Mitch spent the night crying over the deer’s death.