Paradise on Fire

Addy and the other five teens are getting much better at hiking. They’re “pulling far, far…farther away from being [their] old selves, just city kids” (87). They attend “rope school,” where they learn how to safely climb using ropes, harnesses, and helmets. After an example—where one of the counselors, Dylan, pretends to fall as a joke—everyone climbs. After they practice, they do the catwalk, which is 20 feet high.

When they go to the high ropes, Addy belays for Jay and keeps him from falling as Jamie monitors her. Addy feels proud but is also aware of the weight of that responsibility. On the highest walkway, DeShon freezes as Dylan pressures him to go. Addy reminds him to think of his favorite song as he’s crossing, and he crawls across. The final test is the zipline. When A’Leia freezes, Addy goes first and loves it. Everyone else only does the zipline once, but Jay and Addy do it multiple times.

Addy dreams of the apartment fire. She hides beneath the blanket with her doll. Pop collapses, and Mama pats the flames with a dish towel and her hands. Mama goes across the room.