Something from the text that I thought was interesting and actually relates to my text is the quote when Allison realized why her mother allowed her brother to abuse the family: "Suddenly I understood why so many times the mother of a mass murderer claims her son couldn't possibly be guilty of any crime--craziness" (pg. 148). For many years, Allison's father never left her mother, no matter how unreasonable and destructive she acted. Perhaps Allison finally chose to leave Tom because she wanted to do what her father never could; what she wished he would do when she was younger. "I hate to think about it, but many times I begged my dad to leave my mom. My father never left my mother all those long crazy years." She wanted to show him that she was strong and could support her family on her own. However, I feel that mainly Allison was rebellling against her mother, who loved her younger brother so much that she tried to protect him no matter how badly he behaved. Allison grew up never relating to her mother and naturally wanted to avoid acting like her. By leaving Tom, Allison proved that she was not insane-her mother's most prominent characteristic.