Chapter 13 Summary

Sara listens to Aunt Willie attempt to call her father, who works in Ohio, warning Aunt Willie that he will not come. Aunt Willie calls anyway, announcing to her brother that his child is missing without any preamble. Sara thinks about her father and about the distance with which he has treated his children ever since Charlie's illnesses. Sara can remember pictures in the family album of a happy man, but her only memories of him now are of an absentee dad who comes to visit rare weekends only to spend the entire time in front of the television.

Sara fixes herself toast and Kool-Aid and goes out into the yard to eat it. Sara thinks of Charlie playing in this yard. Sara climbs onto the swing and teases the dog, waiting for Aunt Willie to get off the phone. When she does...