The Serpent King

Lydia sits on the porch and tells her mom about Dill. Her mom tells her to enjoy their time together, since “you can’t live with your heart locked up in a safe” (324).

Dill decides to be brave enough to tell his mom about college, and that he got financial aid. His mother reacts with disapproving silence, and she leaves the room, praying for Dill.

Lydia and Dill arrange for the upcoming prom, following Dill’s idea for “Pathetic Prom. We set out to intentionally have the most pathetic prom night imaginable” (328). They both dress in costume: Dill in his dad’s suit, and Lydia in a “gaudy, red-sequined, 1980s vintage prom dress” (329); she puts on crazy make-up and sports a hilarious hairdo, and only part of her body is spray-tanned. They go to Cracker Barrel, even though Dill likes the diner, because “We’re so pathetic that we can’t even do Pathetic Prom right” (330). As they order a crazy meal, they tear up over Travis, whom they both miss.