Day Three: Monday, June 6th

Since school has been canceled, Kelton tries to occupy his time with the internet and YouTube, but nothing keeps his attention. He feels strange, comparing the head of the HOA coming to ask for help from his family to a moment of “triumphant despair” in hunting (49). In addition, He thinks about his current interest in his neighbor Alyssa and decides to go over and make his move. He offers to help her family with their recent plumbing problems and even gives Alyssa some water. He overhears Alyssa’s parents discussing how they think the government will help. Kelton thinks about bringing up some flaws he sees in their thinking but decides not to ruin their hope.

Alyssa’s dad assigns her and Garrett to seal up the plumbing so that the house, devoid of water, stops smelling. While trying to clean a toilet, however, Garrett spills Comet into their bathtub reservoir of water, ruining it. Alyssa thinks, “I go downstairs to tell Mom and Dad, bracing for the worst—but they don’t get angry. Which, I soon realize, is much worse than if they had” (57).