Walk Two Moons

Sal walks Phoebe home on Sunday, and Phoebe learns from her father that her mother spoke to Mrs. Cadaver on the phone. Phoebe insists that Mrs. Cadaver is lying (and in fact murdered Mrs. Winterbottom), and after an argument, Mr. Winterbottom agrees to alert the police if his wife doesn’t call home soon. In private, Phoebe tells Sal that she plans to contact the police herself. In English class the next day, Phoebe gives a presentation on the Greek myth of Pandora, and Sal finds herself thinking about the story throughout the rest of the day. She wonders whether there was a second box full of good things: “[W]as there one bad thing down there in the bottom of the good box? Maybe it was Worry” (168). Sal reflects that the Winterbottom family, unlike her own, seemed troubled even before Mrs. Winterbottom’s departure. She doesn’t think that departure had anything to do with Phoebe, however, and says this aloud to her grandparents. Gram and Gramps exchange a look, and Sal realizes that her own mother’s departure wasn’t a rejection of her.

Sal and her grandparents reach the Black Hills two days before Sugar’s birthday. Gramps insists on visiting, but promises they’ll be quick. He jokes that he might even let Sal drive—something he taught her to do on his farm. Sal remembers how excited her mother was to see the Black Hills, as well as the stories she told Sal about the Sioux’s struggle to regain control of the region. They drive to Mt. Rushmore next, and Sal reflects, “[T]he Sioux would be mighty sad to have those white faces carved into their sacred hill. I bet my mother was upset” (172). From there they move on quickly, passing into Wyoming, where Sal is dismayed to learn her grandparents intend to stop at Yellowstone.

In English class, Mr. Birkway reads a Longfellow poem that Sal finds disturbing: “The waves, with their ‘soft, white hands’ grab the traveler. They drown him. They kill him. He’s gone” (175). Ben suggests that the man might simply have died, but Sal says it’s never “normal” to die, but “terrible” (175). Ben then suggests death could be both. After school, Phoebe collects her “evidence” and goes with Sal to the police station. The policewoman they initially speak to is skeptical of Phoebe’s kidnapping theory, but eventually allows the girls to speak with Sergeant Bickle. Phoebe repeats her story, presenting Bickle with the anonymous messages and several strands of hair. When Bickle excuses himself, the policewoman questions Phoebe about school and her home life. Bickle returns with Mr. Winterbottom, who takes the girls home and then goes to see Mrs. Cadaver. All he learns, however, is that Mrs. Winterbottom promised to phone again soon. Phoebe again insists that Mrs. Cadaver played some role in her mother’s disappearance, and Mr. Winterbottom begins crying.

Later that night, Phoebe calls Sal and tells her to come over: Mrs. Cadaver has gone out, so her house is empty. The girls find the door unlocked and enter, only to hear someone call Sal’s name. It’s Mrs. Partridge, who explains she could tell who had entered based on sound and smell. Sal and Phoebe look around the room, which is full of old books, rugs with “dark, swirly patterns of wild beasts in forests” (185), stuffed animals, a decorative sword, etc. Before the girls leave, Mrs. Partridge confuses Phoebe by saying she thinks she recently met her brother. Before Sal returns home, she tries to persuade Phoebe—who wants to return to the police with additional “evidence"—that Mrs. Winterbottom might have left on purpose. She also upsets Phoebe by telling her mother might not return.

Back in her own bed, Sal remembers Phoebe showing her several household items she associates with her mother. Sal still has many of her own mother’s gifts, which she revisits methodically from time to time: “I would […] try to remember exactly the day she had given them to me […] If I did not have these things and remember these occasions, then she might disappear forever” (188-89). She also thinks of Ben, wondering what happened to his mother and remembering his remarks about the Longfellow poem. After a sleepless night, Sal calls Phoebe and tells her they must find Mrs. Winterbottom.