For a long time, adult Kate thought that her family wasn’t relevant to her life anymore. She rose to the top of her class in zoology and had many opportunities. She started staying in Toronto to work, visiting home less and less. Her siblings attended her graduation, “dressed in their best. I was touched, but I was embarrassed by them. I did not introduce them to my friends” (188).

Kate’s professional focus crystalized during a field trip to a lake, when she found a water boatman covered in motorboat oil. She was deeply saddened imagining aquatic life disappearing and began studying surface tension and pollutants. She met Daniel in the department, and they started going out. Kate struggles to think of a gift for Simon, eventually deciding to buy his book for his first year at university. She also makes him a small gyroscope.

The week before the party, Kate has a crisis in the middle of teaching class. She dislikes teaching and doesn’t feel that she’s particularly good at it. During class, she has a vivid memory of visiting the ponds with Matt and how he approached wildlife with wonder. Thinking about this, Kate stumbles, and one student yawns.