The chapter “The Two” opens with “At first they seemed like such nice girls. No one could remember exactly when they had moved into Brewster” (129). Lorraine and her loving spouse Theresa are not introduced as individuals, but rather as a pair of girls. Throughout the entire chapter the women of Brewster Place, especially Sophie, do not make the couple feel that they belong in this community because of their sexuality. Just a few pages into the text after witnessing Theresa catch Lorraine as she trips over a child’s toy the narrator reacts, “They had seen that- done that – with their men. The shared moment of invisible communion reserved for two and hidden from the rest of the world behind laughter or tears or a touch” (131)
Even though Lorraine displays all the qualities that these women would want in a neighbor (considerate, quiet, friendly) ultimately she is ostracized for her sexuality. Sophie spreads rumors about Lorraine and her spouse and “the two.” She even publically humiliates Lorraine at a community meeting. This is a very important scene because Lorraine flees out of embarrassment and I consoled by a man named Ben. His kind words make her confident and later when she leaves a party after a fight with Theresa she does not go directly home.
The horrible scene when Lorraine is gang raped leads an interesting reading. Maybe she is being punished for her outlying sexual behavior. Because she does not conform to societal norms, Lorraine is not safe. The Women of Brewster Place creates a very stifling environment for the characters of each chapter and Lorraine suffers a great deal. Ultimately, she stumbles away from the scene of the crime and murders Ben. This retaliation is a statement to her disappointment in men. She finally confided and felt safe around Ben and when her guard was let down she was brutally raped.
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