Summary

Meanwhile, the geriatric, climate-changing neighbor continues to remind her that the house is falling apart, including a fallen over mailbox, and is a stain in the neighborhood, though he does so passively. She lives in part of Florida that is not currently under threat of flooding from climate change, though hurricanes are common. Close by is a town with a prison where Ted Bundy was put to death. One day, the narrator is watching Lois's dog when it runs away, only to be found by a kind woman whose daughter claimed the ability to speak with animals. The little girl matter-of-factly says that the dog loves the narrator. Through her days, the narrator continues to imagine different adventures with her daughter, at one point prompted by a Girl Scout cookie table. However, she makes no effort to track her down.

The beach...