Within Arm's Reach

Catharine remains sure that the accident was caused by her seeing the ghosts. She then reveals her belief that she gained the ability to see ghosts and visions from her late husband, Patrick. She explains that he saw visions, such as of an Irish band when he sang Irish songs to the children. She accepted Patrick’s visions because he was a good husband and father who provided for her and the children. The day Patrick died, she knew he was going to go, and she believes he gave her his visions the moment before he died. In the present day, Catharine notices the apparitions of nine small children outside her window. She initially thinks they are her own, but then she sees that they are the Ballen children, who lived in Patrick’s old hometown. Catharine and her children brought Mrs. Ballen a pie one day, and they learned that Mrs. Ballen tied her children to the large tree to keep track of them.

Catharine then goes to see her youngest child, Ryan, who lives in a dirty, run-down home with birds, whom he lets roam freely through the house. Struggling with mental illness, he distrusts doctors and public schools. She tells him what has been going on with the family, except for her accident and Gracie’s pregnancy.