Son of a Trickster

Maggie unexpectedly arrives to pick up Jared after school, and Jared is apprehensive to interact with her. She is incredulous that he is nervous and tells him: “I’ve never touched you...I don’t deserve this” (184). He reminds her that she told him he would be sorry, but she does not respond. At home, he explains why he was helping his dad, and Maggie reminds Jared that Phil left them. When Jared points out that she left him for months, Maggie says: “I would have never married Phil if I wasn’t knocked up [...] You have no idea what I did to keep you” (185).

Sarah stops by and has a tense interaction with Maggie. Maggie thinks Sarah is “cracked” and thinks Jared might be with her out of pity. He assures her that she just “has issues,” like everyone else. Later that night, Maggie hosts yet another party and reminds Jared that she “would kill and die” for him (187).

In a dream, Jared swims with wild orcas and then appears on a fishing boat with the old woman he met along the highway. He asks her about the “monster showing through” (188), and she clarifies that it is magic that she does not “let out.