Part 2: Chapter 5

Welcome back to a new installment of the novel Larita & Lyle.

This chapter marks a transition into part two of the novel, where significant changes begin to occur. Larita begins to reflect and scrutinize her previous rationalization of her relationship to Lyle.

The chapter takes place in Chicago in a halfway house as opposed to the South, where the novel has taken place until now. Research was conducted to understand the origins of halfway homes and how they served their purpose. This time period (1940s) also marks the beginning of the conceptualization of the word “teenager,” which became a nationwide term to refer to late adolescence and early adulthood. This is noted in the beginning of the chapter.

Larita faces more permanent separation from Lyle and meets a boy about the same age as her with different life experiences. The two are able to converse in a manner that allows Larita to self-reflect and gain a new comprehension of her place in the world.

Themes present in this chapter include aggression, authority, minor violence, police, abuse, emotional excavation and more. Readers who are sensitive to these subjects may want to use discretion as they proceed.

Use this link for access.

Stay tuned for more chapters of Larita & Lyle, and thank you for reading.