The Lamb

Margot dreams of the severed fingers of strays trailing up to her. She picks up the fingers, counting them. When she reaches six, she sees the girl with the purple nail polish and the boy with the nervous manner standing close to her, as if trying to tell her something.

Ruth grows increasingly restless as days pass without a new stray. Margot feels constantly hungry, subsisting on dry pasta. One night, Eden sits up with Margot on the couch, commenting on Margot’s skinniness. Margot tells Eden she worries if Eden and Ruth would even notice if she were gone. Eden tells Margot to think happy thoughts and stay “Nice and juicy. Healthy” (193).

Margot is at school when she gets her first period. Mr. Hill dismisses Margot’s pain at first, but excuses her from class when he sees blood on her chair. He calls Roz, who works in the school office, for assistance. Roz finds Margot in the toilet and gives her hygiene supplies, a hot water bag, and dark chocolate. She helps Margot clean up with great kindness, telling her she must go to the doctor if the pain continues to be terrible.