Thanks to D'Nique for ordering another episode of Parable Of The Sower by Octavia Butler, because I was so curious about where the story was going! Turns out that after reading this next section I'm still not entirely sure, but everything is still compelling enough that it doesn't matter.
I reread the last 3 chapters to refresh my memory before continuing on, and this trio of chapters has a lot to do with trust and Lauren feeling like nobody can really understand her point of view, because the one girl she confides in runs and tells on her. Turns out that Lauren isn't entirely correct; her father understands her point of view, but he's a little smarter in how he goes about preparing people for the worst.
There's a lot more info dropped in this section about how the community works, the makeup of the other families, and how everyone tries their best to get along even though there is just some horrific shit happening. It's simultaneously a little inspiring and incredibly depressing. Hmm.
Thank you again, D'Nique, and I hope you all enjoyed listening!