History of Wolves

Linda works as a temp at a barge in Minneapolis in her twenties. While working one day, she receives a call about her mother from a woman she attends church with. She tells Linda that the cabin is “run-down” (246) and that her mother is living in the shed. She hopes Linda will speak with her mother. 

Soon after this call, Linda goes to a Christian Science service. There, she learns that they don’t believe in death, “only the next phase” (247), which is not dissimilar from life. She listens to the testimonies of several people, ending with an elderly woman acknowledging her former, false belief that her husband had died; the church has shown her that there “is no death” and “it’s not what you do but what you think that matters […] Heaven and Hell are ways of thinking” (249). 

Linda decides to leave Minneapolis. After she’s packed, she goes to Rom’s apartment, slips into bed with him, and feels comforted by how tightly he pulls her in. He begins to wake and holds her tighter, but when she playfully fights back, she accidentally knees him hard in the chest. He realizes she’s leaving and wonders why she won’t allow herself to be happy.