The chapter opens as the four friends—Ted, Joar, Ali, and Christian—separate at a crossroads after saving one bird and burying another, promising to meet “Tomorrow.” Ted watches Joar as long as he can, and the narration notes they will only swim together in the sea once more.

Later, Joar sits on the floor with his mother, nervously asking if they should “puke” food to feed the injured bird, recalling what he believes mother birds do. Joar’s mother is unsure but delighted by Joar’s knowledge. They decide to give the bird water first, and she cleverly uses a straw to feed it drop by drop. Their banter—silly jokes and fond teasing—underscores their intimate, resilient relationship amid hardship.

Joar reflects on how others judge his mother—her clothes, laugh, and manner—while insisting she is the best part of his life. He considers the notion that she might have “poor judgment,” recounting chaotic, affectionate memories: riding in a bicycle basket, ice cream for breakfast, a pants-leg briefly set on fire during sewing by candlelight, and long movie marathons. She once taught him to skate, and they lay on the rink naming constellations; he hid his skill to avoid the costs and culture of team sports.

At twelve, Joar learned she did not have a driver’s license only after she had taught him to drive; she once evaded police by claiming he had appendicitis. Despite dreams of escape, both remained trapped by fear and circumstance in their home, which Joar likens to an invisible prison.

Back in the present, as they care for the bird and joke—his mother laughing so hard she farts—the mood shifts. Joar’s father silently arrives, already several beers in, breathing harshly, his gaze unfocused but locking onto the bird and their happiness. Hatred fills his eyes, and Joar understands there will be no happy ending to this moment.