34 pages 1 hour read

William Kennedy

Ironweed

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1983

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Chapters 3-4

Chapter 3 Summary

The group leaves the bar, and Rudy goes to sleep elsewhere. Francis and Helen walk back to the mission with Pee Wee, intending to rent a hotel room after dropping him off. At the mission, they see that Sandra is dead, and wild dogs have partially eaten her body. Running after one of the dogs, Francis trips, hurting his ankle.

Crossing the street, Helen finds herself surrounded by a group of children dressed as goblins for Halloween. They make fun of her protruding stomach and steal her purse, which contains all the money belonging to her and Francis. After moving Sandra’s body into the mission, Francis and Helen go looking for a place to sleep, as the mission is full.

As they walk, Francis sees Aldo Campione together with “Rowdy” Dick Doolan, another person from his past. Francis tells Helen about his conversations with Billy and Gerald, and she suggests that he go see his family. They arrive at a house belonging to their friend Jack, who lets them in for a drink and a bite to eat. Inside, they find Clara, a onetime sex worker who started a family and then left that family. She now lives with Jack and is sitting on a chamber pot due to illness.

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