Summary

The narrator talked to her father Dan on FaceTime after he emerged from his hip surgery. She told him he was “in the hospital” and the surgery had gone well, but he had COVID and was contagious (271). He could not return to Berrywood, his assisted-living facility where he had contracted it, until he was better. Dan was surprised to hear he had gotten the virus from the Berrywood chef (271). He had hated the food there, but they did give him “a glass of lemonade” that reminded him of the war (271). The narrator was upset that his mouth looked so dry. She told him she could ask the nurses if he needed anything, and promised to request some lemonade. The narrator did not understand why they would not give him lemonade when he was dying. They believed it was better to die dehydrated.

Dan...