Perfect Peace

On the following Sunday, Gus forces his family to go to church. On the way, the family encounters an inquisitive Eva Mae, but Gus sends her away. At church, the congregation reacts to Paul’s new appearance with various forms of shock and outrage. W.C., Miss Mamie’s husband, prays and requests insight from God about how to love and understand one’s neighbors. Reverend Lindsey spots Paul and is shocked. He requests that Emma Jean sing “Amazing Grace” for the congregation, and she cries as she sings. After the service, one of W.C.’s children approaches Paul and begins to make fun of him. Authorly attacks the other boy, and Emma Jean decides to announce that she deliberately raised Paul as a girl. Everyone standing outside the church is horrified, and Gus silently pushes his family into their wagon. At home, Gus tells Mister and Paul to feed the cows. Eva Mae approaches and asks Paul what happened. She promises him that he is still her best friend. The pair go to their secret place underneath the house and have oral sex. Afterward, Eva Mae tells Paul to meet her in a field of clovers by the Jordan River.