the visit, the two decide to correspond through letters, which consequentially changes Astrid's outlook on her mother later in the novel. While at the trailer, Astrid finds herself liking the attention she receives from Ray, finds herself having urges and needs,
             becomes obsessed, and creates her first destructive sexual relationship by sleeping with him on several occasions. Astrid is just a young girl of 14 years yearning to feel any form of love while the opportunity is available, as she had just barely received any form of acknowledgement during the previous years of living with her mother. While writing to her mother Astrid expresses clear signs of interest and a fond nature for Ray, and her mother disapproves to the fullest extent, "Dear Astrid, do not tell me how much you admire this man, how he cares for you! I don't know which is worse, your Jesus phase or the advent of a middle-aged suitor!"(83) Which then leads to Astrid's first act of rebellion against her mother,
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