We Deserve Monuments

Simone texts Avery throughout the morning, reporting that Carole seems to not know about Simone’s sexuality. She visits with Avery and Letty; Jade has been ignoring her calls. Avery, still angry, hasn’t reached out to Jade. While Simone considers telling Carole the truth, Avery confides her relationship with Simone to Letty, who is unconcerned. She refers to Letty being upset over Carole and Zora’s love, and Letty responds by saying it was “not one of [her] finer moments” (259). She wanted to protect Zora from persecution due to her sexuality, she explains, fearing it would get her killed like Ray. They cheer on a little girl learning to ride her bike, enjoying their time together without worrying about the future or how things might have been different.

Simone knocks on Avery’s window late at night, eyes red from crying. A text from Carole reveals she spoke to Tallulah and plans to have “a talk” with Simone after work. Simone convinces Avery to borrow Letty’s car for a drive, even though Avery worries about her curfew.

Simone and Avery drive, wearing flower crowns that Simone wove for them. Avery takes Simone to the Renaissance, which is bustling and joyous, with LGBTQ+ couples being openly affectionate with one another. Simone is in awe. Arnie recognizes Simone as Carole’s daughter, while another patron buys their sodas, as he remembers Zora. The band begins playing and the two girls dance joyously. Avery worries over the emotional intimacy of sharing a slow dance with Simone, afraid that Simone’s fear about her mother’s reaction will lead her to reject Avery. She watches as couples of all ages and genders dance together, feeling like she belongs. When Avery notes her arriving curfew, Simone convinces her to stay longer, and they dance all night.

Avery tells Simone about the relationship between Zora and Carole, which shocks Simone. Simone claims she “need[s] some time to process this” but wishes to keep dancing (279).

Arnie and his partner, Jerome, reminisce about Carole and Zora and advise Simone to “give [Carole] time [to] come around” (281). They drive back to Bardell, arriving just before five o’clock in the morning, surprised that Avery’s parents have returned early. Zora appears, furious. She, Sam, and Carole were worried about their daughters’ absence; Carole is also upset that she learned about Simone’s sexuality from Tallulah, and claims Avery “corrupted” Simone, which upsets Zora.

Simone rejects Carole’s claim that she is “confused” and references her knowledge of Carole and Zora’s love. Avery lashes out when Carole calls Renny’s “disgusting,” accusing her of being “repressed.” Though Zora defended Simone and Avery against Carole’s anti-gay rhetoric, she scolds Avery for breaking curfew once Carole and Simone have left. When Letty tries to interject that she gave Avery permission to borrow the car, Zora criticizes Letty’s parenting. Zora and Letty shout at one another while Sam and Avery try, ineffectively, to intervene. Zora laments Letty’s neglect, while Letty is furious that Zora left and seems to not care about her family or history.

When Avery tries to apologize for breaking curfew and instigating the fight, Letty brushes her off, claiming she and Zora were “overdue” for the argument. Avery dislikes this cavalier attitude but reads Letty Ray’s letters until Letty falls asleep.

Local jokes reported that a “true” local of Bardell has left and returned, thus proving their loyalty by showing they could live somewhere else but chose Bardell instead. Zora, who left at 18 and planned never to return, later discussed in therapy how her mother’s cancer would bring her back to Bardell. This return disrupted her coping strategy of thinking about the grandness of the universe to survive racist aggressions against her, leading her to realize the prominence of her childhood trauma in her life.

Avery faces tension at home and awkwardness in school when Jade refuses to talk to her. Simone doesn’t come to school until Wednesday. Jade ignores Simone, too. At lunch, Simone reports that Carole has incessantly prayed for Simone’s “salvation” from “impure thoughts” (298). Simone, citing the inevitability of their breakup, offers that they “might as well end this now” (299). Though Avery protests, Simone apologizes and walks away.

Sam picks Avery up from school and takes her for ice cream, which cheers her up. Avery complains that she doesn’t know who she is, which Sam cites as “part of being human” (303). He advises that there is no rush to figure everything out. Avery feels uncertain about how to act without urgency.