Kya, feeling increasingly lonely and observant of local boy Tate, connects with him from a distance but is hesitant to approach him directly.
Her self-care dwindles as she becomes lackadaisical about cleaning and personal grooming, and she frequently admires a vintage dress of her mother's that she's too young and small to wear.
After seeing a group of local children playing on the beach, Kya longs for their companionship and camaraderie. She feels excluded but is unsure how to join in.
Kya's life becomes hard when her main source of income, selling mussels, is undercut by competitors. She becomes financially destitute and has to innovate new ways of earning a living.
Kya begins to smoke fish for sale, turning to Jumpin', a local shopkeeper, for help. Jumpin' agrees to sell them on her behalf.
Jumpin's wife, Mabel, decides to help Kya after seeing her struggle. She proposes giving Kya clothes and other necessary items in exchange for smoked fish.
Mabel and Jumpin' work out a barter system with Kya to help her get by.
Kya begins farming after Mabel provides her with seeds and explains how to plant them.
Around this time, Kya discovers one of her mother's old barrettes in the ground, invoking painful memories of her family who has abandoned her.
Kya collects the clothes and provisions from Jumpin' and Mabel, providing some relief from her burdens. She's extremely grateful and pledges to pay them back by providing more smoked fish.