The Smell Of Other People's Houses

Ruth feels that despite her heartbreak and the loss of her baby, “the world will still go on spinning” (213). She was asking one question a day about her baby daughter and gave her grandmother’s name. Time passes without her realizing it, and The Sisters expect her to continue with her life. Ruth soon leaves the abbey for Fairbanks.

Ruth feels like a different girl. A man speaks to her on the bus, making her feel like a person again. The man says she will meet someone about Ruth’s age and is unsure about the soap gift he bought her. Ruth says she will love it. The man is Phil. Ruth soon falls asleep.

Ruth awakes and sees Phil talking to another man about fishing and boats. In her last letter to Ruth, Selma writes the news in Fairbanks. She has learned where she comes from, Alyce was accepted in dance school, new boys have arrived in town and Dora and Dumpling spend time with Lily and Bunny at Ruth’s house. Ruth wants to see them but has not thought much about returning home. She wonders how her grandmother will act because she now sees her differently.

The bus arrives in Fairbanks. Ruth sees Alyce embracing the man Phil was talking with on the bus, then pulling Sam close. It is Alyce’s father. She also sees Selma among the crowd walking shyly toward Phil and hugging him. Ruth feels good and starts laughing. Ruth sees her grandmother, who looks older, and Selma introduces her to Phil. Ruth feels it is time to get off the bus and “rejoin the world” when she sees Hank (219). She also notices Jack now talking to Selma and Phil.

Hank notices her and approaches the bus as Ruth thinks about their last meeting. Jack also recognizes her, and Selma comes to kiss her, saying she missed her. Ruth wants to see her grandmother, but Sam grabs her hand and ties the red ribbon to her wrist saying he will wait. Ruth knows that her baby also has it. Ruth sees her grandmother weeping. She tells Ruth that the girls are preparing a party at home. Ruth says she named her daughter after her, but she does not feel deserving. Ruth felt it would be like a second chance and her grandmother laughs and embraces her. She finally apologizes and cries.

Ruth feels her heart still beating.