Summary

Chapter 18 covers Day 14 in the novel. That morning, Frankie found the keeper and Dr. Bellows arguing about printed fruit near the Snack Shack. She was angry, and he was looking at his watch. Bellows turned to let Frankie speak, but Frankie addressed the keeper instead, asking her name. When the keeper said Daisy, Frankie knew she would never call her that. She asked the keeper to teach the signs for “Can I enter?” (1809). The keeper signed, and Frankie practiced. When Frankie left, the keeper and Bellows resumed their argument.

Frankie watched the bonobos from the visitor area. When Mama sat nearby, behind the Plexiglas, Frankie sat on the floor, pouted as the bonobos did when addressing a superior, and signed to ask if she could enter. Mama considered, then signed no.

Later, Stotts asked Frankie what she had said to Tess before, because Tess...