Fair and Tender Ladies

In Part 2, Ivy begins writing often to Silvaney—a practice she continues for the rest of her life, as writing to the sister she feels is her “soul” allows Ivy to speak freely and process her feelings. She also writes to Beulah quite a bit, and she sends a few letters to Victor, Molly, and her new teacher, Miss Torrington. This section details Ivy’s first experiences outside of Sugar Fork, where she begins to shed some of her childhood naiveté through exposure to reckless role models, more education, and sex.

As soon as Ivy moves to Majestic, she begins experiencing passive sexual advances from men. As she notes: “I see them starring at me sometimes it makes me feel funny and bad. […] I do not wish to be maried nor have them star untill it is like ther eyes are touching my boddy underneath my dress” (93). In Majestic, Ivy and her family stay with Geneva Hunt at her boardinghouse, where they help out in exchange for a place to stay. For the first time ever, Ivy has her own room.

Ivy delights in observing all of the new people around her and trying to understand their behavior.