On that day, Mice scrabbled over the cleft, darting across the parking lot so fast that for moments I lost sight of her. Today, I can still see her quick- legged gait between the parked cars. She hurried to the boulevard. I followed." Part I, 4, Narration
-- Narration (Part I)

Importance: This quote marks the moment in the narration revealing that the story is told through Girtle’s first-person perspective rather than a third person omniscient narrator. This revelation reframes the narrative, emphasizing the theme of surveillance and observation: Girtle is not just a passive storyteller but an active follower, fixated on Mice’s movements. It highlights Girtle’s role as both watcher and participant, setting the tone for the novel’s exploration of perspective and surveillance. The vividness of the memory underscores how deeply Girtle is tied to the events, reflecting her emotional investment and the blurred boundaries between objective observation and subjective experience...