Contents
Cover
Title page
Copyright
Dedication
I
The Rat
The Omen: November 2, 1991
Disowned
The Happy Childhood
Best Kisses!
Obituary
“Boys Will Be Boys”
To Die For
“Accident”
Louisville Slugger
The Little Sister
The Promise
The Siege
Because …
The Rescue
The Secret I
The Secret II
Final Confession
“Dear Christ What Did Violet Do Now”
The Revelation
The Bat
Safe House
Runaway
II
“Praying for Violet”
Exile
Sleepwalker
The Iceberg
Turnip Face
Sisters
“Mr. Sandman Bring Me a Dream”
“Dirty Girl”
The Stalker: 1997
“You Are Not Wanted”
Dirty Girl
“Violet, Goodbye!”
III
The Scar
The Burrow
Valentine
Keeping Myself Alive
Off the Books
Rat, Waiting
Sorrowful Virgin
Damned Little Dog
Tongue
Uncanny
First Aid
“Maxed-Out”
The Misunderstanding
The Return
In My Mother’s Garden
Forgiveness
The Guilty Sister
Howard Street
Home
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Novels by Joyce Carol Oates
About the Publisher
