Rescue

In "Blessed Deliverance," the rescue where Headass temporarily volunteers is symbolic of deliverance. The rescue is meant to free animals from harmful situations and give them new lives. Ultimately, the rescue ends up freeing both Headass and the unnamed narrator. The place both grants them new perspectives and new understandings of one another, effectively delivering them from one version of reality into another.

Ramona

In "The Let-Out," Ramona's character is symbolic of the past. When the narrator learns that she is his father's former lover, the narrator becomes fearful and curious at once. He hates that Ramona is reminding him of a past era he has tried to erase. At the same time, Ramona is granting him access to a former and previously inaccessible version of his father.

Simone's Yard

In "Comfort," Simone's yard is symbolic of grief. Although Simone has promised to maintain the yard...