Gwendy's Button Box

Things improve for Gwendy when she meets a boy named Harry Streeter. Harry is new in town, and the two meet when he comes to see a movie where Gwendy works. He returns the next night to see another movie and asks Gwendy for her number. The two quickly become inseparable. Realizing things are growing serious with Harry, Gwendy considers talking to her mother about birth control.

Gwendy feels extremely happy and relieved to no longer be relying on the button box, but as a result, she begins to gain weight, get lower grades, and run slower.

Taking note of her weight gain, Gwendy remembers being called “Goodyear” and contemplates going to eat a chocolate from the button box. However, she realizes she doesn’t need the button box to be happy and smiles at the realization.

The next morning, Gwendy wakes up on the floor, holding the button box with her thumb on the black button. Shocked, she notices a chocolate from the box that she’s tempted to eat but decides to flush it down the toilet.