Shortly after Jet’s mermaid-themed party, Lillian and Jet spend a day at the zoo with Shauna and Kendi as Shauna’s birthday gift to Jet. They enjoy the exhibits and food, and afterward Jet falls asleep on Lillian’s lap, prompting Lillian to savor the moment while noting Jet’s growing up and her own physical discomfort, a balancing of holding on and letting go.

Back home, they check the answering machine and hear a message from Ryan. He addresses Jet directly, apologizes for missing her party due to “a gallery event,” and sings “Happy Birthday,” which reminds Lillian of earlier, happier days with him. Jet is largely indifferent, focused on her new Polly Pocket.

That evening, Jet picks tomatoes from their garden and eats them while Lillian cooks. Lillian teases Jet about food preferences after Jet told her doctor that Kraft macaroni and cheese was her favorite. Jet studies their new outdoor thermometer, reconciling herself to the fact that her idea had already been invented.

In the third week of kindergarten, during a hot morning walk to school with Shauna and Kendi, the children lead with oversized backpacks and chatter about an upcoming Disney tribute at Casa Mañana. Jet proposes that she and Kendi should get married when they grow up; Kendi says “Ew” and mentions kissing on the lips, and Jet counters with a list of shared likes as “reasons” to stay together forever. The kids quickly move on to talk of frogs and recess.

Walking behind them, Lillian and Shauna joke about the children’s “betrothal” and their own desire to remain close. They reach the school amid small neighborhood scenes: a crossing guard’s familiar grin, a gust of wind lifting a mother’s skirt, and the bustle at the doors. Lillian calls after Jet, who waves and disappears into her school day, while Lillian imagines Jet rotating through classes and games as “Doctor Jet.”

Another mother asks Lillian how many children she has; Lillian replies “just one,” noting internally that she lies each time she says Jet is her only child as a way of protecting the memory of her relinquished son. As Lillian and Shauna leave, they see a boy crying after stepping in fire ants and being comforted by his mother, a small tableau that echoes Lillian’s reflections on motherhood, care, and loss.