Family of Liars

A few days later, Carrie’s uncle Dean arrives with his children, Yardley and Tomkin, and Penny’s friend Erin. Carrie greets Yardley, with whom she has a close friendship. Carrie appreciates Yardley’s “seriousness of purpose” (64) and the fact that she can also be silly and lighthearted. Yardley tells Carrie she looks amazing and then ushers her over to meet the other summer guests who have also arrived: three teenage boys.

Yardley introduces one as George, her boyfriend, whom Carrie describes as “generally beige” (65). Carrie also meets Jeremy “Major” Majorino, who arrived throwing up from seasickness, and Lawrence “Pfeff” Pfefferman, another friend of George’s from school. Carrie finds herself noticing Pfeff the most, and when Yardley notices this, she warns Carrie to “watch out [...] Pfeff is a lot” (67). Harris tells the boys to gather their things as he steers them toward their accommodations at Goose Cottage.

As soon as the boys are out of view, Tipper turns to Dean and reprimands him for bringing guests to the island without warning or asking permission. Dean reminds her that he is half-owner of the island and does not need to ask permission to bring guests. Carrie tells her mother that it would be ruder to send the boys away now that they are here and begs her mother to let them stay, saying that she needs a distraction.