Dumplin

It’s two months later, and Willowdean thinks that “Bo has become the best and worst part of [her] day” (73). She loves kissing Bo, but she hates when Bo’s hands start to touch her body. Every night after work, they visit the park at the elementary school. Willowdean hops in Bo’s truck and he kisses her.

One night, even though Willowdean didn’t tell anyone at work it was her birthday, Bo gives her a birthday gift bag. In the bag, she finds a Magic 8 Ball, a metal slinky, and silly putty. She almost misses the last gift in the bag until Bo pulls out a pair of bright red heart-shaped glasses. Willowdean loves them.

Willowdean doesn’t see her mother much. Being so busy with the pageant, her mother often falls asleep by the time Willowdean gets home. One night, Willowdean gets a text message from Ellen. Ellen is angry that Willowdean promised to go to Tim’s house after work but forgot. Willowdean also receives a text message from Bo wishing her a good night.

The next morning, Willowdean wakes up to Ellen outside Willowdean’s house ringing the doorbell. Willowdean questions why Ellen is so happy so early. It’s hot outside, but Ellen makes Willowdean go with her to the mall to pick up Ellen’s paycheck even though Willowdean hates Sweet 16 for its lack of big sizes and for its tiny t-shirts that read: “I’m too pretty to do my homework” (82).

At Sweet 16, the girls run into Callie, who Willowdean has decided is her “sworn enemy” (82). Ellen’s boss drags her behind an “Employees Only” door, wanting to show her the store’s new merchandise. Willowdean parks herself in a fitting room where she hears Callie talking to a coworker about Willowdean. Callie says that she “didn’t see her leave but she’d be pretty hard to miss” (83). Callie also says that it is nice that Ellen is nice to Willowdean, but it’s sad that Willowdean follows El around like a puppy.

Passing Callie and the other girl, Willowdean leaves the dressing room to sit on a mall bench outside the store, thinking: “If I could unzip my skin and step outside myself, I would” (84). Willowdean is surprised to run into Bo in the mall. She almost doesn’t recognize him without his Harpy’s uniform. Bo is at the mall with his stepmother and his brother, whom Willowdean meets. Bo introduces Willowdean as his coworker. Ellen arrives and Bo’s stepmother says how great it is that Bo already knows people who go to Clover City High, as Bo is starting there in the fall. Willowdean leaves angry that Bo didn’t tell her about his switching schools and that their lives were going to intersect outside of just work: “I won’t be ridiculed. I won’t be one half of the couple that everyone stares at and asks, How did she get him?” (88).

One night, Willowdean’s mother makes Willowdean watch television with her. She wants Willowdean to watch an MTV reality show called “Transform Me: I Hate My Fat Body” (90). Her mother finds the show inspiring, but Willowdean thinks it is ridiculous. Before falling asleep, Willowdean plays with the Magic 8 Ball and gets a text message from Ellen asking if Willowdean is okay because she was weird at the mall. Willowdean lies and tells Ellen that she was weird because of the pageant. Willowdean receives no text messages from Bo.

Still mad that Bo didn’t tell her that he is coming to her school in the fall and still convinced it is because he wants to keep their relationship a secret, Willowdean ignores Bo at work the next night, thinking: “Bo stares holes into my forehead as he eats sandwiches beneath the lamps” (94). Bo tries to explain to Willowdean in the supply closet that he was going to tell her. He apologizes and tries to kiss her, but Willowdean will not give in.

Collin, Bo’s friend from his old school, comes in to Harpy’s. When he asks again what Willowdean’s name is, Bo replies: “Will. Her name is Will” (96). It hurts Willowdean, as she has never heard Bo shorten her name before. Bo again apologizes to Will in the parking lot after work, but Will tells Bo he is jerk and that she is tired of being his secret.