Counting by 7s

When she wakes up, Willow feels crushed by her new reality; at the age of 12 she is “already twice without parents” (131). This realization “presses down on [her] in a force much greater than gravity” (131), and she questions the point in living. Willow decides not to go back to school indefinitely and accompanies Pattie to the salon. Pattie calls Children's Services so that they can assign Willow a caseworker. Meanwhile, Willow focuses on making a list to keep herself occupied. Willow's caseworker, Lenore Cole, arrives at the salon an hour later. Willow notices her posture and assumes she has back pain, but she does not care enough to tell her. After speaking at length with Pattie, Lenore finally comes back to introduce herself to Willow. Willow silently hands her a list of wants and needs she has compiled, and she eventually has to leave with Lenore. Saying goodbye to Pattie “is the hardest goodbye [she's] ever had” (138), despite meeting her less than 24 hours ago.

Lenore takes Willow to the Jamison Children's Center, a facility that provides emergency foster care. While she waits on the couch, Willow spots the local newspaper on the coffee table. The headline is about her parents' crash, and upon seeing a photo from the scene of the accident, she faints and cuts her head on a sharp edge of the table.