58 pages • 1 hour read
Vanishing Acts
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Parts 6-7Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 6, Pages 307-328 Summary: “Eric”
Eric cannot contact any of Andrew’s former Arizona neighbors. He contacts Delia’s former preschool teacher, who shares that Delia showed signs of neglect and that Elise smelled strongly of alcohol when she visited the school. At one point, Elise never picked up Delia from school, so the teacher took her home, only to find Elise unconscious. The teacher took Delia home to spend the night. When asked, the teacher explained that she did not call social services because Delia was loved and showed no signs of physical abuse. She did not contact Delia’s father because Elise requested to deny all contact with Andrew. The teacher states that Andrew had threatened Elise with kidnapping Delia.
Eric confronts Andrew over this but leaves before Andrew can answer. Eric does background checks on all the witnesses for the trial and uncovers a felony DWI for Elise while she was pregnant with Delia. The prosecution, however, uncovers that the victim in Andrew’s prior assault charge was Victor Vasquez. The assault occurred three months before Andrew’s divorce was finalized.
When Eric confronts Andrew with this information, Andrew states that he thought Eric knew. Andrew states that he “watched him touching her” and nods when Eric asks “Elise?” (315). Andrew tells Eric that he will say whatever Eric wants on the stand, and Eric quits.
Fitz and Eric argue over Eric’s quitting, leading Eric to tell Delia that Fitz is writing about the trial. Delia lashes out at Fitz, and he leaves. The prosecution presents another witness, but Eric tells Delia that the case is fine. He does not mention quitting. That night, Delia questions Eric, and he admits that Andrew is probably going to jail for a maximum of 10 years. Eric realizes that Delia’s scar could not be from a sledding accident. Eric, no longer quitting, asks Andrew, who states that the scar is from a scorpion sting. When Elise finally found Delia, the child was extremely ill and had to be intubated and placed on a ventilator for several days.
The hospital records indicate that Delia became agitated when the doctors removed her clothes and was sedated. Testing revealed Delia had a urinary tract infection besides the scorpion bite. The hospital called social services because Elise was intoxicated when they arrived. Likewise, Andrew was notified. Delia is concerned that she has no memories of this, though a memory of Victor visiting her resurfaces while Eric and Delia are in the hospital. Eric tells Delia that Elise cheated on Andrew, and Delia becomes enraged that Eric is keeping things from her. Eric tries to explain that he cannot share information or risks being disbarred, then states that he will tell Delia whatever she wants to know.
Eric buys a bottle of whiskey and drinks some while ruminating on his and Andrew’s choices. He dumps the rest down a sewer and focuses on Andrew’s case.
Part 6, Pages 329-361 Summary: “Delia”
Delia goes to her mother, only to find her with another man. Elise explains that she is a curandera, a folk healer. Delia asks if she believes that these remedies can help. Elise replies, “what I believe doesn’t matter. It’s what he believes” (331). Delia asks Elise to help her, and Elise hugs her while Delia cries.
Delia drives Ruthann to Second Mesa. Delia shares all her frustrations, and Ruthann tries to calm her. The small family is fascinated by the carved cave, and Ruthann shares some Hopi history and beliefs. They arrive at Ruthann’s sister’s house for a Hopi ceremony, where the katsinas return to the spirit world.
Delia writes a letter to Elise, acknowledging Elise’s regrets but stating that these regrets do not eliminate Delia’s memories or her sorrow. She rips the letter and scatters it to the wind. Delia, Ruthann, and Sophie watch the katsinas dance and pass out presents. The following day, Ruthann is missing, and Wilma, Ruthann’s sister, is frantic as Ruthann is not nearly as strong after the chemotherapy. Delia and Greta follow Ruthann’s trail to a canyon covered in drawings. At Greta’s cue, Delia climbs the rocks to find Ruthann several feet above her, about to jump. Delia cries for Ruthann to stop, but Ruthann shakes her head. Delia decides that Ruthann should have control over her life and nods. Ruthann jumps.
Delia calls the tribal police, telling them she and Greta arrived too late. Louise, Ruthann’s daughter, arrives that evening and shares stories of Ruthann. Delia and Sophie talk about Ruthann’s death, both missing the older woman. Fitz arrives, at Delia’s request, to pick them up. As they leave, it starts to snow, indicating to the Hopi tribe that Ruthann has made it to the spirit world. On the way back, Delia visits her father briefly and remembers their vanishing act and her fear of disappearing. When they arrive at the trailer, Delia sees Eric’s car and asks Fitz to act as a buffer. Fitz refuses, and they argue until Fitz grabs Delia and kisses her. Sophie sees them, and Delia tells the girl she is dreaming. Delia tries and fails to say many things, and Eric states his fear of losing her.
Part 7, Pages 363-396 Summary: “Andrew”
Concise convinces Andrew to make himself sick to retrieve Stick’s makeshift bullet. He hides it in various places in his cell and on his person, but there are several attempts by other inmates to find it. Concise breaks down when a news report reveals his friend and business partner died in a meth-related fire. Initially judgmental, Andrew realizes Concise’s reasons and draws up plans and instructions on correctly cooking meth. Concise recruits people from the outside to assist and sells the completed product in prison, causing problems with other inmates. Concise builds a zip gun for their protection. Before both men leave for court, they hide the bullet in the cell. However, when they return, Andrew realizes the bullet is missing right as someone shoots Concise.
Andrew is initially suspected of Concise’s murder and cannot reach Eric. Eventually, Andrew is removed from the suspect list and relocated to another level of the prison. Within 24 hours, Andrew moves again. His new roommate, Hayseed, talks incessantly, eventually revealing that he is Stick’s brother. He then beats Andrew.
Andrew meets Eric and begs him to move him out of the cell. Andrew finally realizes that other inmates will kill him if he remains imprisoned. Eric agrees to have Andrew placed in administrative segregation and promises to get Andrew acquitted.
Part 7, Pages 397-411 Summary: “Fitz”
Fitz talks to a suspicious Sophie, who points out that he is in love with Delia. When they return home, he finds Eric rather than Delia. Eric apologizes for telling Delia about the article, which Fitz forgives. Shortly after, Fitz finds a bottle of whiskey and confronts Eric. Eric claims that he is struggling and feels terrible that Andrew almost died in prison while Eric was drunk. Fitz pours the whiskey out and leaves. He discovers that his editor canceled his cell service and fired him. That night, Delia arrives at Fitz’s hotel room, unable to sleep due to the anxiety of the next day’s trial. However, rather than the article, Fitz admits to writing Delia’s story, indicating that Fitz authored Vanishing Acts. They kiss again and read the story aloud to each other long into the night.
Parts 6-7 Analysis
Earlier on, Elise defends her alcohol addiction by stating that she was not a perfect mother, but she loved Delia. While this may be the case, the extent of Elise’s neglect seems to belie those words. Not only did Delia attend school unkempt and unfed, but she nearly died from a scorpion bite on Elise’s watch. However, no one took action to protect Delia because there were no signs of physical abuse. Her teacher ignored the signs of neglect and continued to teach Delia, even going so far as to keep Delia overnight when Elise was unconscious. When they admitted Delia, the hospital, noting the visibly intoxicated Elise, called both social services and Andrew, but again social services ignored the blatant neglect. Throughout the story, it is not so much the Misdirection, Illusion, and Lies but the withholding of information that proves the most damaging. The people around Delia chose not to share about the neglect, most likely to protect Delia. However, this silence and inaction proved even more damaging.
Unfortunately, Eric must continue withholding information from Delia lest he get disbarred. Finally, Eric admits to Delia the consequences of sharing information about Andrew’s case. This admission, however, comes with immense hostility, causing Delia to leave in frustration. While Delia does not act maturely, Eric’s reaction is over-the-top. Not only does he convince himself that his affection for Delia is worth more than his attorney ethics but he also starts drinking. Eric’s thinking always seems to default to extremes. Delia’s storming out the door means that she is leaving him forever. Her anger at not being told about Elise’s affair means that she will not be happy until Eric shares everything with her.
In a book of lies and liars, no one lies more regularly than Eric. However, the person he lies to most is himself. In Eric’s head, his relationship with Delia is a tenuous thing. He feels she is constantly looking for reasons to leave him, which is another illusion. Delia stayed with Eric through the height of his alcohol addiction. She took care of him every time he reached his lowest point. Delia only left Eric to protect her then-unborn daughter. Perhaps Eric is overcompensating, as he knows he was miserable to live with during his alcohol addiction, but this constant fear does not indicate a healthy relationship. There are no honest discussions or compromises. Eric is afraid to argue with Delia and is more likely to capitulate to her wishes rather than fight for his needs. However, all relationships have some amount of conflict. When these conflicts arise, Eric becomes hostile. He lashes out at Delia, escalating the issue rather than discussing the problem. Eric argues that this is part of loving someone, but this type of love feels just as damaging as his alcohol addiction.
After she clashes with Eric, Delia runs off with Ruthann. While Delia complains about her problems, Ruthann justifies Eric’s actions. However, Ruthann is also hiding information to protect Delia. During the four-hour drive trip, Ruthann talks Delia through her problems without mentioning her own. Ruthann is dying from cancer. She returns to Second Mesa to die.
The mysticism that runs through the story is heavy here as Delia and Sophie watch the Hopi katsinas’ dance, the last one, Ruthann says, before they return to the spirit world. A golden eagle watches over the ceremonies to ensure their appropriate completion, only to be smothered to death by the people who love it most. The eagle became part of a Hopi family, and they are responsible for killing it. They complete their duty with tears and grief. Perhaps the eagle’s death is meant to reflect how the love of Ruthann’s and Delia’s families is smothering them. Perhaps it shows how people can grieve their actions, even knowing they were right. Adding to the symbolism, the eagle’s mother visited her before his death. Whether the mother offers support and comfort or is there to ensure her son does his duty remains unknown.
After the eagle’s death, Ruthann goes missing. Delia finds Ruthann clad in her wedding robe, one of two robes gifted by Ruthann’s uncles-in-law. Though Delia initially tries to get Ruthann to stop jumping off a cliff, she eventually nods to her friend. “I think […] all the people who do not want to be left behind,” Delia narrates, “who think we know what is best for [Ruthann] […] I know better than anyone what it feels like to have someone else make choices for you, when you deserve to be making them yourself” (350). Like the eagles, Delia ensures that Ruthann does not greet death alone. For the Hopi, rain indicates when a soul has reached the spirit world, but after Ruthann’s death, it snows. Delia takes this as a sign meant for her.
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