Summary

Lizzie sends Elvis postcards from the hospital since the family is not allowed to visit or call. Lizzie’s postcard, which contains an illustration of Lizzie feeding Boomer a steak, confuses Elvis since Lizzie never showed a particular fondness for Boomer. Christmas and Elvis’s birthday pass without celebration or rabbit cakes. Elvis feels “sadder and lonelier” than ever (90). She recalls how her mom used to pack her a pill canister of M&M’s, telling her to take the yellow ones first since yellow is the happiest color.

Elvis tells Ms. Bernstein about a book she is reading as research for her mother’s book. It is about naked mole rats. “Every time a naked mole rat dies, the social structure of the colony shifts” (93), Elvis shares with Ms. Bernstein. In the back of the naked mole rat book, Elvis’s mother...