Summary

The next morning, Cora wakes Leni up for school as if nothing had happened. Leni is confused by her own anger, but Cora asks her not to judge. She admits that she sometimes provokes Ernt and insists that he cannot help himself. Leni wonders if the family should leave, but Cora insists that they all love each other and that do not have the money to leave without going to Cora’s parents. Leni realizes that her mother loves her father too much to do what is best and safest.

Ernt comes in, sad and regretful. He does Leni’s chores and calls her his “little librarian” (129). As the VW engine warms, they listen to the radio broadcast messages to isolated Alaskans. When they arrive at school, Leni wants to show her strength, but he apologizes sincerely, explains about “gross stress reaction,” and...