When Grandpa didn’t show up to get the kids after school, it was cause for alarm. Later, a police cruiser arrived with the news that Gene had collapsed and died in the supermarket earlier in the day. Upon receiving this news, Betty showed just a flash of emotion, but kept up her veneer, while Sally was immediately crushed, but got no comfort–not even an arm around her shoulders from her mother. In fact, Betty all but slammed the door in Sally’s face as she headed inside to talk to the officer. Later, Sally lashed out at her parents, aunt and uncle sitting around discussing Gene, not understanding what they could be laughing about. Betty sent her to watch TV, as per usual, and Don’s gaze was more sympathetic, but he didn’t console her either. From the picture we saw of his parents, labeled “Archie and Abigail, 1928” with his dad’s frowning face looking up at him, my guess is Don was just not brought up to be emotional when someone dies, or really ever. The last we saw, Sally was watching news footage of a Buddhist monk setting himself on fire to protest the Vietnamese government. I think Sally might end up in Haight-Ashbury by decade’s end.
