Summary

Cissy becomes increasingly interested in caves and cave-exploration, collecting information on other spelunking hobbyists, Paula’s Lost, and another nearby cave called Little Mouth. Little Mouth is known for several water holes, in which a boy was lost in 1972. Nolan introduces Cissy to his friends from community college, Jean and Mim, who share Cissy’s interest in caves. Cissy thinks they do not look like they are from Cayro, which makes her enthralled with them. Jean and Mim befriend Cissy, much to Cissy’s delight. Amanda, who by now has two children with Michael, Michael Jr and Gabriel, says that Jean and Mim do not look “remotely Christian” to her. Mim is in fact Jewish, though Jean is not. Cissy feels self-conscious around them, worried that they are more interesting and sophisticated than her. Cissy considers her religious outlook versus Amanda’s, and...