Chapter 25

Contains spoilers

Overview

Blake, Krista, and Whitney hold a backyard funeral for the dead goldfish, Goldy. Whitney inserts herself into the ceremony, earns Krista's sympathy with a heartfelt eulogy, and disposes of the fishbowl water that Blake suspected contained bleach. Blake accuses Whitney of killing Goldy, which enrages Krista and deepens the rift between Blake and Krista.

Summary

Blake prepares for a small backyard funeral for Goldy, their goldfish, noting his rash has improved since Krista began doing his laundry. When he returns to the living room, Whitney has arrived from a diner shift and is comforting a tearful Krista; Krista says Whitney wants to join the funeral, to Blake's dismay.

Whitney offers to remove the fishbowl from sight. Blake, who wants to preserve the bowl water to test for bleach, tries to stall, but Krista insists it is only dirty fish water. Whitney takes the bowl to the kitchen, and Blake hears water pour out, realizing any potential evidence is gone; Whitney returns, apparently pleased, and briefly winks at Blake.

Outside, Blake digs a shallow grave with a kitchen spoon while Krista places Goldy, bagged, in the ground and sets a rock as a marker. Blake notices Whitney smirking during the solemn moment. When Whitney suggests saying a few words, Blake gives a brief, awkward eulogy, which seems to disappoint Krista.

Whitney then delivers an elaborate, emotional tribute to Goldy, claiming the fish kept her company and that Goldy's spirit remains with them. Krista is moved to tears, calls Whitney a good friend, and takes her hand. Whitney comforts Krista while Blake feels sidelined and increasingly angry.

Overwhelmed, Blake accuses Whitney of killing Goldy with bleach and faking grief. Krista is furious and defends Whitney, noting Blake had wanted to flush the fish. Whitney adopts a soothing tone toward Krista and expresses shock at Blake wanting to flush Goldy, while Blake insists Whitney is a psychopath who poisoned the fish and calls Krista naive.

Krista, visibly hurt, says she needs to be alone and goes for a walk, abandoning plans they had. Whitney and Krista head back inside together, while Blake remains in the yard, stewing over Whitney's triumphant smile and his own escalating anger.

Who Appears

  • Blake
    narrator/tenant; organizes and participates in Goldy’s funeral, tries to preserve suspected evidence, accuses Whitney of poisoning the fish, further alienating Krista.
  • Krista
    Blake’s girlfriend; grieves Goldy, accepts Whitney’s support, dismisses Blake’s concerns about the bowl water, becomes angry and hurt when Blake accuses Whitney, leaves to be alone.
  • Whitney
    tenant; removes and dumps the fishbowl water, gives an emotional eulogy that wins Krista’s sympathy, appears to taunt Blake with a wink and smile, denies wrongdoing implicitly and positions Blake as overreacting.
  • Goldy
    the couple’s goldfish; deceased, buried in the backyard.
© 2025 SparknotesAI