"There was a Jim O'Connor we both knew in high school - if that is the one Tom is bringing to dinner - you'll have to excuse me, I won't come to the table." (Scene 6, Page 1264)
Some of the most debilitating memories in this play revolve around Laura. I blame her incredibly low self-esteem for this. The memory of her handicap in high school has haunted her for 6 years and prevented her from forming any real relationships in her life that could improve her life. Just the thought of a high school acquaintance coming to dinner causes her to be ill, and she is only coaxed out of this sickness by the good manners and delightful personality of Jim.
The other negative memory surrounding Laura is Tom's memory of her when he leaves. He is trying to change his life, and he is haunted by the guilt of leaving his little sister. The memory of his betrayal towards her grips him at times, and he has to drown out the thought of her with movies and alcohol further proving that the memories surrounding Laura are primarily obstructive of self-improvement.
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