Avery and Trent decide that their findings require them to go see May Crandall. They both have work obligations, but this feels more important. Avery and Trent feel “like a couple of sixth graders playing hooky from school for the first time” (216). Avery’s phone has to be silenced to stop Leslie, her dad’s assistant, from frantically trying to locate her. Avery knows there will be hell to pay for this because “Leslie does not like to be ignored” (217).

When they get to the nursing home, it is unclear to them how to begin. They don’t know if May will be open to talking or intractable as she is with the workers at the home. She greets them by roaring for them to “Go away!” (219). After this she flings a hairbrush at Trent. Avery is able to get into the room by repeating that May knows her grandmother, at which point, May asks, “Are you coming in or not?” (219). They begin talking about Grandma Judy and Avery admits that her memory is fading intensely day by day. It is painful for Avery to say this and leaves her “floundering emotionally” (220).