Five Survive

Oliver steps out of the RV to inspect the tire, followed by Maddy, Arthur, and Simon. The narrator notes that by opening the RV door, Oliver breaks the barrier between the inside and outside: “He opened the door and let the outside in” (39). Red asks Reyna to go before her and tries to reassure her everything is fine, but Reyna says that Oliver will blame her for the punctured tire, even though there was nothing on the road. Red understands how Reyna feels because they are both “Lavoy-adjacent but not Lavoys” (40). Reyna and Red follow everyone outside, where Oliver confirms the tire got punctured. Oliver blames Reyna for not seeing what punctured the tire, and Red defends her by pointing out that it was too dark to see anything.

They try to find a solution. Without cell service, they cannot call AAA (the American Automobile Association, which offers roadside services and other benefits to paying members). The nearest town is too far to walk to in the dark. Red suggests that they rest there for the night, but Maddy turns down the idea because she wants to arrive at Gulf Shores in time for spring break.