The Plague Of Doves

Evelina works a double-shift at the 4-B’s, consolidating ketchup bottles by precariously balancing them atop each other, even though she’s not supposed to. When it’s slow, Evelina also practices French and reads Camus in preparation for college. Marn comes in with her kids, whom Evelina has never met, although Marn used to work with Evelina. Evelina reflects, “They looked like they were walking out of a tornado” (184). Marn orders her kids a huge breakfast but won’t let Evelina take her coat. The kids eat voraciously, as does Marn, who tells them to order dessert as well, stunning them.

Evelina makes the kids the best desserts she can. Her boss, Earl, yells at her, but Uncle Whitey rudely tells Earl to leave her alone. Earl sees Evelina’s French book and makes snide remarks about the French, but again Whitey stands up for her. Earl yells at her about the dessert again, but leaves off when he realizes it’s for Marn, whom he has a crush on. Earl offers Marn her job back, which she willingly accepts. Marn talks about using Coutts to get her land back so she can start a snake ranch.

Bliss storms into the diner, screaming at Marn who takes out the hammer from her coat pocket with one hands and puts the steak knife in the other.