I Know What You Did Last Summer

On the day after meeting with Julie and Barry, Helen sunbathes by the pool and thinks about her sister, Elsa, who works at Wards Department store and looks down on Helen’s job at the television station. Helen recalls how her physical appearance got her the job and what she went through to look like she does—dieting, hair dying, and makeup. She contrasts her carefully constructed looks with her mother’s haggard appearance—the result of “housework and budget-stretching and childbearing” (35). Helen is not exceptionally smart, so she was excited to leave school for the Future Star job.

Helen thinks about Barry and feels lucky that he, a popular football player, decided to date her. She regrets calling him about the note because Barry doesn’t like to be pressured. She remembers how early in their two-year relationship, his mother warned her not to chase Barry. A new neighbor joins Helen poolside, asking if he can sit beside her. After noting that she has a boyfriend, she agrees, and he introduces himself as Collingsworth Wilson, a veteran. She asks if she can call him Collie. Collie asks about her boyfriend, admitting to being interested in her and seeing Barry as competition. Helen says only nice things about Barry and worries about getting a sunburn because of her job on television.