The Glass Castle

On the way home from school, Jeannette and Brian frequently pass an establishment known as the Green Lantern. Eager to know what goes on there, Jeannette sends Brian to talk to a woman smoking a cigarette on the porch wearing revealing clothing. The woman tells Brian it’s a place where “men came in and women there were nice to them” (63).

One day, the family visits the Hot Pot, a natural sulfur spring that smells like rotten eggs. Brian and Lori swim readily, but Jeannette is too scared to do so. Over and over, Dad tosses Jeannette into the middle of the spring, causing burning water to enter her throat and eyes. Eventually, upon being thrown in the spring for the umpteenth time, Jeannette becomes so angry at Dad that she successfully evades his attempts to recover her, thus learning to swim.

Dad keeps his job at the barite mine for six months—a record for him. More and more, Dad disappears for days at a time. Aside from the proceeds of an occasional odd job or gambling win, the family has no income. As such, the family’s refrigerator is frequently barren. To stave off hunger, Jeannette steals items from her classmates’ lunches during recess.