The Turning: On Her Knees Summary & Analysis

Vic Lang (now a first-person narrator) has moved back to the city with his mother (Carol) after his father (Bob) ran off. Vic is studying law at university; his mother cleans homes for a living, supporting both of them so Vic can focus on his studies. While this makes Vic feel guilty, his mother is a scrupulous cleaner who takes great pride in her work and does not share his view that cleaning other people’s homes—perhaps even the homes of his university classmates—is demeaning. Sometimes Vic helps his mother with jobs, but this only partially makes up for his guilt. Deservedly, she has a great reputation, which is upset by one of her clients’ accusations of theft, claiming that Vic’s mother has stolen her pair of $500 earrings. She is given one week’s notice before being fired.

Vic and Carol argue for the first time since his father’s disappearance, as he does not think she should continue to clean for her accuser. Vic’s mother, however, insists on finishing the job, and eventually Vic agrees to help her. They continue to bicker in the car as they drive over. Vic suspects that the accusation is false, with the intention of lowering his mother’s wage, as the client has not reported the theft of such allegedly valuable jewelry to the police. Vic’s mother, however, refuses to speculate or confront the problem directly, instead insisting on cleaning the apartment to the best of her ability and leaving it at that: saving her honor.

Vic and Carol arrive at the apartment, located in a wealthy neighborhood near the university that Vic attends. They enter and set to work. Vic’s mother has insisted on bringing her own cleaning supplies to prove a point that Vic does not think the client will even notice. Vic’s mother finds an envelope with her final payment, as well as a note, which she quickly stuffs in her pocket, not showing Vic. As they clean, Vic admires the expensive appliances and décor throughout the house. The client owns two cats, whose litterbox disgusts Vic, but he cleans it anyways. As Vic cleans the study, he notices the client’s books and papers: she is a professor at the university, seemingly teaching in a social justice-oriented discipline. Vic begins to wonder if the client is aware of him; perhaps her not reporting the theft is an act of mercy to a struggling family.

Vic asks Carol about the note, but she brushes off his questions. They argue more about what to do about the situation. Vic’s mother makes clear that what matters most is her reputation: if word got out about the alleged theft, she could lose her other jobs, too. Vic, while vacuuming under the bed, suddenly finds the earrings: the client clearly did not even look for them. Vic and his mother agree that they seem cheap, not worth $500, but Vic’s mother reiterates the importance of maintaining her good name. When his mother isn’t looking, Vic throws the earrings in the litterbox. As they prepare to leave, Vic’s mother makes clear she will not take this week’s pay. Vic, who has forgotten the vacuum, goes back to get it; he also fishes the earrings out of the litterbox, wipes them off, and leaves them with the money.