Housekeeping

Sylvie and Ruthie go down to find the boat Sylvie uses, and it was hidden by the owner. Ruthie considers how she walks like her aunt and thinks about how they are the same. Sylvie could even be her mother, she thinks. Sylvie is upset the owner hides the boat because she always puts it back where she found it. The two find the boat and get in as the owner starts to yell at them. Sylvie notes how he always does this and tells Ruthie to ignore the man.

Sylvie explains many people live on the islands and the hills. She says that “there might be a cabin there with ten children in it” (220). Sylvie notes she thinks she saw the children, and she keeps crackers in her pocket partly in case she sees them. One time, she tried to lure a child out, but she was unable to. Ruthie considers how dawn reminds her of her grandfather’s paintings and also makes her think of Heaven, but she does not believe she will be comfortable in Heaven. She thinks of her grandfather watching them, but she knows he cannot because his train is miles away.

They leave the boat.