Girls in White Dresses

T hi s i s a B orzoi B ook

P ubl i s hed by A l fred A . K nopf

Copyri ght © 2011 by J enni fer Cl os e

A l l ri ghts res erved. P ubl i s hed i n the Uni ted S tates by A l fred A . K nopf, a di vi s i on of Random Hous e, Inc ., New Y ork.

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K nopf, B orzoi B ooks , and the c ol ophon are regi s tered tradem arks of Random Hous e, Inc .

LIB RA RY OF CONGRE S S CA T A LOGING-IN-P UB LICA T ION DA T A

Cl os e, J enni fer.

Gi rl s i n whi te dres s es / by J enni fer Cl os e.— 1s t ed.

p. c m .

eIS B N: 978-0-307-70041-4

1. W om en— Fi c ti on. 2. Chi c k l i t. I. T i tl e.

P S 3603.L68G57 2011

813’ .6— dc 22

2011003397

T hi s i s a work of fi c ti on. Nam es , c harac ters , pl ac es , and i nc i dents ei ther are the produc t of the author’ s i m agi nati on or are us ed

fi c ti ti ous l y. A ny res em bl anc e to ac tual pers ons , l i vi ng or dead, events , or l oc al es i s enti rel y c oi nc i dental .

J ac k et i mage by M ay er George V l adi mi rov i c h / S hutters toc k J ac k et des i gn by A bby W ei ntraub

v3.1

T O M& D

w i th l ov e

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

The Rules of Life

Summer Sausage

JonBenet and Other Tragedies

The Peahens

Blind

An Animal Cal ed Ham

Cigarettes at Night

Black Diamond, Blue Square

The Day They Captured the Pigeons

The Showers

Hope

Little Pigs

Placenta

Button

Jesus Is Coming

Flushing Wil ard

Until the Worm Turns

Acknowledgments