TRTR Part I, Chap V Pages 171-172: A Brachycephalic Symbol

[Erik T. Burns]

So the doorbell rings and it's Herschel, with "a young lady adjusting
a garter," a "little two-legged friend".

He says "Baby!" on seeing Maude, who wants one.

Herschel, it appears, has a brachycephalic head, and Maude thinks
"Head shapes are very important."

Herschel's is flat, not intellectual or that of a domestic, or a big
square leader of men's head.

There is some talk of getting Maude a baby from another woman Herschel
knows who is going to have one and doesn't want it -- "Not just yet,
though."

This is Esther, Wyatt's former wife. Wyatt is not the father of the
"turkey in the oven."

The unreproductive theme is underlined by polite talk of abortionists,
and they highlight Wyatt's exile, too: "I understand he lives
underground. Or underwater. Some really absurd part of town. No one's
ever been there."

Basically, we are being introduced to Gaddis' preoccupations:
wholebodiedness vs missing limbs; sterile relationships, heavy social
drinking.