Summary

The novel opens on August 20, 1998. Eileen Bright had left her children Jack, 11, Joy, 9, and Merry, 2, in their broken down car while she walked to a phone to call for help. Jack lied and told Joy their mother had been gone only 20 minutes when it had really been more than 30 minutes since their mother left to walk to the payphone. Because his mother was pregnant, he imagined it might take her longer than normal. His mother had left him in charge, so he tried to distract Joy by playing I Spy with her.

Jack finally decided to take Joy and Merry to meet his mother. They set out walking despite Joy’s worry that their mother would be mad that they had disobeyed. Jack had to carry Merry because she refused to walk. They took a break under an apple tree. No one stopped...