All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

Wavy sees a remodeled motorcycle Kellen has been working on; he has painted it with the constellations and added a special seat for her. She feels “hot things” caught in her mouth that she cannot bring herself to say (150). She feels strong attachment to Kellen, but she tries to push that desire away, cringing at the thought of Kellen with other women. The jealousy pains her enough to ask Kellen not to let anyone ride the bike but her. She gets on the bike with Kellen, even though she wishes she did not enjoy the feeling of being with him.

When Kellen goes to the jewelry store with Wavy to pick out an engagement ring, Miss Humphries assists them. Miss Humphries has spent more than 40 years working at the jewelry counter and recognizes the demeanor of many kinds of couples. She first judges Kellen and Wavy to be poor, wondering what kind of ring they might be able to afford. She assumes Kellen brought Wavy along to help pick something out for her mother. She comments on Wavy’s childlike appearance and her blue pintuck dress. When they finally buy an expensive ring and Kellen asks her to size the ring for Wavy, Miss Humphries realizes her error. Still, she shows Kellen and Wavy nothing but kindness, and Kellen tips her an extra $100.

When Wavy and Kellen return for the ring, Miss Humphries’s brother and business partner is at the counter. Although he privately makes his disapproval of the couple clear, Miss Humphries makes sure Wavy’s ring fits. She sees Wavy’s excitement at the ring and knows it’s “[r]omance. For better or worse” (156).

Cutcheon describes Wavy and Kellen returning to the shop after buying Wavy’s ring. When Wavy tells Cutcheon they are getting married, Kellen tells her not to tell people. Cutcheon sees Wavy’s disappointment. Later, Kellen tells Cutcheon he does not plan to marry Wavy, and Cutcheon chastises him, telling him he will hurt Wavy by promising something he does not mean to do. Cutcheon tells Kellen that he married his own wife when she was 14 and he was 26. Kellen dismisses Cutcheon at first, saying the times and circumstances allowed for such measures. Cutcheon explains how his wife’s family—Italians he met during his WWII deployment—accepted their marriage and was grateful to see her cared for; they were impoverished and the war had just ended. Cutcheon thinks about how Wavy and Kellen take care of each other. He once worried that Kellen would one day take his own life, but since he found Wavy, Cutcheon no longer bears that fear. He tells Kellen to be responsible and take care of Wavy. Kellen pours Cutcheon a bourbon and tells him the ring “is a sincere promise” (160). However, if Wavy grows up and wants to marry someone else, he would be happy for her. Cutcheon understands that Kellen is in love with Wavy but that Kellen believes Wavy is too young to know her own feelings.

Sandy catches Wavy looking at her makeup table and lashes out at her, accusing her of stealing or spying. However, Sandy quickly apologizes and then coaxes Wavy to stay so she can teach her how to apply makeup. Wavy points things out and Sandy explains: eyeshadow, lipstick, lip liner. Wavy points to her pill case, and Sandy asks her if she knows where babies come from. Wavy thinks about health class and how the book illustrations do not resemble the sex she has seen. When Sandy notices her ring, Wavy tells her that she and Kellen are engaged. Wavy hides in the closet when Liam comes into Sandy’s room. She sees as Liam forces Sandy to perform fellatio on him and then sees him comfort Sandy after he makes her cry.

When Wavy comes back out of the closet, Sandy apologizes for having forgotten she was there: “I guess you’re getting your education tonight” (164). She changes her shirt and sees Wavy looking at her breasts. She teaches Wavy how to dress so that her breasts look bigger. She cuts Wavy’s undershirt to fit her better, telling her Kellen will like it if she dresses that way. Wavy remembers seeing pornographic magazines in Kellen’s house and believes Sandy.

Wavy shows Kellen a note from a boy in her class asking her to a dance. Wavy wrote back, telling the boy she has a fiancé. Kellen tells her he would not mind if she went to the dance with a boy, but Wavy punches him and makes him apologize. Kellen knows Wavy wears the ring all the time. Butch, seeing this, confronted Kellen about it, saying “there’s a special place in hell for people who hurt children” (167).

Kellen and Wavy watch TV until Donal comes in and asks them to go swimming. Kellen does not take off his clothes like the children, but he watches, noting that Wavy has breasts now. He carries Wavy out of the stock tank on his back while she is soaking wet and mostly naked. She hugs him and tells him she loves him.