Elvira's sweatpants

Elvira's Winnipeg Jets sweatpants, which she gave to a man experiencing homelessness outside of the local 7-11 before the events of the novel, are a symbol of Elvira's generosity. Swiv recalls her grandmother telling her that "after the doctors killed almost everyone she loved she had to ask herself how she would survive grief and her answer was Who can I help" (15). Acts of kindness, like giving away her sweatpants, help Elvira cope with her grief after the deaths of her husband and daughter.

Mooshie's books

Mooshie's books are a symbol of her intelligence and artistic/cultural ambitions. Mooshie, Swiv, and Elvira live a bohemian lifestyle in keeping with Mooshie's job as a stage actress, and when Swiv and Elvira use some of her books to spell out "REBEL STRONGHOLD" (23) on the roof, Mooshie becomes furious. "Those are books that help me live!" she exclaims...