Meridian Chapter 2 Summary

The Wild Child

  • At Saxon College, there was a young homeless girl affectionately nicknamed "The Wild Child" who would hang around campus (1.2.1). She just showed up one day and made herself at home.
  • For years, Wild Child spends her days picking scraps from the garbage and running away whenever anyone approaches. Then the neighborhood makes a shocking discovery—Wild Child is pregnant.
  • Wanting to help the poor girl, Meridian manages to catch the Wild Child using "bits of cake and colored beads and unblemished cigarettes" (1.2.5). Tasty. Her trap sprung, she tosses the Wild Child into the bath and brings her to the dining hall.
  • Wild Child escapes before Meridian can get her more help, however. The young girl runs into the street, gets hit by a car, and dies.