This one seemed more short story like to me as well. It didn't have the normal mystery theater twist to it. It did keep me listening, and was easy to follow. I got the feeling that things were better as a child...her mother said things were okay until she was interested in boys, and I can see mother teaching her how to make "chicken fried steak" at home.
I think her mother had serious issues that she couldn't deal with her daughter growing up, although it is hard to believe she would turn so emotionally and physically abusive overnight. Maybe she was scared of Helen repeating mistakes she made...don't know what happened because the father was already gone. Was is me, or did "Helen" have a more northern accent until after the scene with her mother, then I started hearing more of the southern influence?
They leave us hanging, but I doubt they would just send Helen back. Her mother didn't seem interested in having her. Helen was so upset she wanted to kill her mother :shock: and she finally dissociated herself from her identity probably to avoid that. They threw in that she was valedictorian of her high school...possibly to hint that she was able to rise above her less than ideal situation and would be okay.
Some children from abusive homes turn out troubled and possibly violent. Others seem to be more sympathetic and try even harder to be productive members of society. I have never caught on to the formula for which way they will go. Helen seems intelligent and polite, and nothing like her mother.