What Night Brings

When Marci turns 12, her belief in God erodes. None of her prayers have been answered, and she starts to “think things might’ve happened in this world more like how my science books said” (222). Marci accepts that she will never turn into a boy, but this does not totally break her spirit: “If I’m gonna stay a girl I’d better figure out what to do” (223). 

After hearing her cries, Marci and Corin find Delia with their photos. She demands to know when they were taken; Marci lies, saying they were taken when Eddie left. Delia doesn’t believe her. She starts to slap Marci. Delia mimics Eddie’s abuse, grabbing his belt and folding “it in half and lifted it up to me” (225). As she does, Eddie comes home.

Eddie takes the belt from Delia. She shows him the photos, but he denies having an affair. Their argument escalates; Eddie slaps her and turns to leave. Delia grabs his arm, and Eddie begins to beat her. Marci notices the shift in power: “It was funny because just a few minutes ago I was […] getting it from her” (227). Marci, however, does what Delia never has—she tries to stop Eddie. He backhands her, knocking her down.

Corin emerges from the hallway with Eddie’s rifle. She shoots Eddie in the back. Marci takes the gun from Corin. She sits with Delia and Eddie, who is still alive but bleeding. Policemen knock at the door, and Marci lets them in.

As the cops tend to Eddie, Marci and Corin pack a bag, grab the bus money from Flor, and sneak out of the house. They go through a neighbor’s yard and, after hiding from a roaming police car, trek to the bus station. Marci and Corin buy bus tickets to Gallup, where Flor lives. When the bus leaves town, Marci “let out the breath I must’ve been holding inside forever” (235). This could refer to her sense of safety after getting away from the police or to her escape from Eddie.

Over a year later, Marci and Corin are living with Flor. Corin has trouble sleeping due to the trauma of shooting Eddie. Delia told the police that Corin accidentally shot him while he was cleaning his rifle. Eddie survived, but neither he nor Delia have come to take the girls home. Delia calls weekly; they do not hear from Eddie, though he still lives with their mother.

On a call with Tommy, Marci confronts him about sending the photos to Delia. He maintains that Arlene sent them, but Marci is unsure. She later learns that Tommy and Arlene are divorcing.

In Gallup, Marci makes a female friend named Robbie. They are in the same class and spend every day together—except Sundays, when Robbie’s family is at church. Marci doesn’t go anymore, because “Grandma gave up on God a long time ago” (238). Marci still believes in God but doesn’t think he answers prayers.

Robbie’s dog has puppies, one of which dies. Marci confesses to Robbie that she is attracted to girls. Robbie admits that she is, too. Robbie touches Marci and, “For the first time ever, I was holding hands with a girl” (241). They kiss. Marci, filled with so much inner turmoil over her orientation and identity, “felt so good it didn’t matter” (242).