Something in the Water

Erin has the first interview for her documentary at Holloway Prison with Holli Byford, whose five-year sentence for arson is almost up. While she’s there, Mark calls with “panic in his voice” (34). His boss fired him because someone snitched Mark was thinking about changing companies. After she hangs up, Erin puts his situation out of her mind because “it’ll all be fine by tomorrow” (36).

Holli relays how she got arrested for setting a bus on fire during the London Riots. Erin asks if Holli would do something like that again when she’s out of prison. Holli says she won’t, but it’s an obvious lie; it’s clear she thrived off her crime. When Erin asks what Holli’s plans are once she’s released, Holli’s demeanor shifts. In a blink, she becomes “a normal twenty-three-year-old woman” (42). Unsettled by the sudden change, Erin speeds through the rest of the interview.

Chapter 6 picks up a week after Mark is fired. He isn’t taking the loss of his job well, and they’re throwing a dinner party because “we need a night off” (45). Tonight, Erin plans to ask an old friend to give her away at her wedding.