Chapter 2 Summary

The bickering between Mom and Pete halts as they gather their things from the van. Pete even helps Trisha by fixing the straps on her backpack, and Trisha feels a moment of optimism about the day ahead. Mom makes sure they all have their lunches and ponchos, then leads them onto the trail. Her mom asks Trisha if she remembered the bug spray, and Trisha brightly responds that she did, although she's really not sure. Trisha is afraid that if she stops to rummage through her pack for the bug spray, the pause will give Pete an opportunity to start back in on his mom. But Pete starts in anyway, complaining as they step onto the trail that he already hates this. Trisha prays to God to send something to distract him from his complaints, like a raccoon, a deer, or even a...