Growing Up

Baker meets Mimi, a “stunning beauty” with a tenth grade education (205). She lives alone, has no family, drinks alcohol, entertains male visitors, and works at a makeup counter. She does not fit Lucy’s definition of “a good woman.” Mimi is too special for Baker to categorize, but Lucy preys on his faith in the “good woman” to sow doubts, telling him Mimi “wouldn’t be bad looking if she didn’t use so much makeup” (205). When the topic of marriage comes up, Baker tells Mimi “marriage isn’t in the cards” but is ashamed to admit why (207).

Born in New Jersey, Mimi is the only child of a volatile alcoholic and a devout Irish Catholic mother who suffered from seizures. Mimi’s first Christmas memory is of her father in a drunken rage. When Mimi is eleven, her mother is institutionalized. Her father surrenders her to an orphanage where Mimi spends four years. She becomes cynical, seeing the matrons save the best donated baked goods for themselves and parading the children before well-to-do patrons. Mimi escapes by reading. She enrolls in a college preparation program but is forced to switch to business.

Mimi runs away but is brought back.