Summary

The giant reveals to Fern that his name is Mac, short for Malachy. At a diner, the waitress is very friendly to Mac, tousling his hair and giving him a free piece of pie, but completely ignores Fern. Fern reflects on her growing distance from her children and briefly considers going home. Mac convinces her, however, to let Edgar miss her. Mac lets her know that he is not expecting sex and Fern is disappointed because she thought she was desirable, and she had wanted to hurt Edgar. Instead, she consoles herself with the thought that Edgar will make mistakes with the children, and the school at least will notice her absence. Fern recalls that when she and Mac went back to her house to get her clothes, she took one memento from each family member and left a note under Edgar’s box...