New Phone

Penny’s new phone is a symbol of a new start as well as a symbol of her relationship with Sam. It is also a symbol of safety. In the opening of the novel, Celeste and Penny have visited the Apple Store to buy Penny this long-awaited for phone. Penny is irritated when Celeste starts flirting with a man in the store instead of paying attention to her daughter. Penny feels like the encounter characterizes their relationship. She hopes her new life at college will be less stressful because she will not have to feel like she is taking care of Celeste.

The phone also represents Penny and Sam’s relationship. Penny and Sam get to know one another through text messages rather than person to person contact. Penny indicates this sort of relationship is easier and less messy because it occurs only in the...