Summary

Chapter 4 reverts to the past. James began kindergarten. That night Bill made a special back to school dinner. As they were eating, he asked all of the children how the first day at school had been. Without prompting, Penny described her day in one word “heaven” (96). The children tried to ignore their mother’s jab. Ryan was hesitant to talk about his day because it had been strange being there with no other children. He and his mother had sat together and looked at picture albums. When she pointed to a picture of James hugging Dog, his stuffed animal, she asked him if he thought the love there was real. Ryan did not answer because he was afraid of seeming disloyal to James. He believed the love “was real but not wide and deep, like his love for Badger” (101).

After dinner, the...