Who is Pammy from Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith and what is their importance?

Anne meets Pammy when Anne is friends with Shelly and Pammy is friends with Shelly's younger sister. Anne and Pammy gravitate to Shelly's home because both girls have bad homes of their own. Pammy's mother is an alcoholic and Anne notes Pammy frequently steps over her mother on the way out the door. Though that might be an exaggeration, Anne also says in later years, Pammy's mother would rant and rave, the girls would say hello to her and she would quietly leave the room. Pammy and Anne become very close and remain best friends after high school. When Anne becomes pregnant at thirty, it is Pammy who takes her to an abortion clinic.