Stay

A small, brown dog named Baby snuggles against the chest of his owner, a woman named Jewel, feeling warm, safe, and happy with his “pack of two” (5).

Piper and Dylan’s parents wake them up. As they get off the bus, they wonder where they have arrived. Piper spots high mountains in the distance and is thrilled, as My Side of the Mountain is her favorite book.

Jewel stretches and asks out loud that her bones keep moving another day. Baby is thrilled to explore the world on yet another fresh day with Jewel. He sometimes does not understand “the smell of sadness and confusion” that Jewel emanates (10); however, he prances around her and makes her laugh, and things feel better immediately.

Gary asks the bus driver for help with the address they are headed to, and she directs them the right way, wishing them luck. On their way there, Piper spots a woman holding a sign that reads, “Hungry! Please help!” (15), with a little brown dog beside her. The family finally arrives at the address, and to Piper’s dismay, she realizes it is an emergency shelter.

Baby stands beside Jewel at the intersection. Some people who pass by hand Jewel a dollar or two; others hurl insults at her. A woman hands Jewel a fresh sandwich, and she gives Baby half; Baby is thrilled. Jewel tells Baby to remember that although there are some “bad folks” out there, people are mostly good.

Becky, the woman behind the desk at Sixth West Emergency Shelter, tells the Trudeaus that the building only allows women and children; Gary will have to stay next door. However, she promises to get them on the waiting list for Hope House, a family shelter, right away. As Gary leaves, Becky shows Piper, Dylan, and Meg around. The new room is small and sparse, with the smallest window up high, and Piper sadly remembers “the tall, sun-filled windows in [her] house back home” (23).

In the park, Baby spots a woman walking a “fancy dog,” the kind that Baby knows lives inside a house. Baby remembers living that way not long ago, but he also loves his new life—he and Jewel are always together, and home is everywhere. Baby runs through a puddle and splashes the “fancy dog’s” coat; its owner immediately puts it on a leash, and Baby feels sad for the dog.

A new lady at the front desk gives Meg meal coupons for the Sixth Street Community Kitchen and stamped paper to use at the Christian Center for winter clothing. Gary joins them, and they head out together.

As the Trudeaus stand in line outside the community kitchen, a familiar-looking woman turns around and asks Piper if she has seen “Sis” before saying something unintelligible. A brown dog peeks out of her coat pocket, and Piper realizes this is the same woman and dog she saw the previous day. The woman allows Piper to pet the dog named Baby, and Piper feels her heart grow lighter as she does.

The community kitchen turns the woman, who Piper learns is named Jewel, at the door, as Baby isn’t allowed inside; Piper doesn’t think this fair. The Trudeaus walk back to the shelter after their meal. It begins to snow, and this delights them.

Baby feels the sadness in Jewel’s heart again and nudges her to remember they have each other. Baby licks Jewel’s tears away and feels her mood brighten, and they dance together in the falling snow.

In the morning, Piper meets and makes friends with another young girl named Gabriela at the shelter. After breakfast, the Trudeaus spend most of the morning standing in line at various employment and unemployment offices. Meg gets frustrated when she learns she cannot apply for benefits for Piper and Dylan without their birth certificates, but the officers are unsympathetic and unhelpful.

On the way to the community kitchen after, Piper catches sight of a flyer announcing a Firefly Girls Troop meeting. She remembers her experience being a Firefly Girl back home, reflecting on how she loved being a part of something.

Jewel wakes up in her usual place—the doorway of the bathroom in the park. Someone is giving away food and blankets to those living in the park, and Jewel and Baby join the others, thanking their donors. Jewel accepts a pair of gloves, faintly remembering wearing them only for church on Sundays back home; however, she can’t remember where home used to be.

Baby and Jewel stand in line in the community kitchen again. Baby recognizes Piper in the queue. At the door, Jewel refuses to leave Baby outside to go in again. The man at the door asserts Jewel doesn’t sound healthy, but Jewel refuses to go to the emergency shelter and get out of the cold if she must leave Baby behind. She asserts that Baby is her family.

Piper is angry to see Jewel and Baby turned away again, but there is nothing she can do about it. Later that night, after Meg and Dylan fall asleep while reading together, Piper takes out her Firefly Girl sash that she carried with her in her backpack and looks at all the pins and badges she has earned. She remembers the flyer advertising the meeting and wonders how she can ever be a part of the troop again when she lives in a shelter.

Jewel shivers and moans in her sleep, and her rattling breath and shuddering cough worry Baby. She does not respond when Baby tries to lick her awake in the morning, and the dog barks in panic. Ree, another park dweller, comes to investigate and calls an ambulance. The ambulance takes a barely conscious Jewel away, and she tells Baby to “stay and be a good boy” (61). Baby curls up on top of Jewel’s bag and waits for her to return.

Gabriela’s mother, Mrs. Alvarez, keeps Piper and Dylan for the day while Gary and Meg attend job interviews. Mrs. Alvarez takes the kids to the park. When Piper goes with Dylan to the bathroom, she is surprised and thrilled to spot Baby in the doorway.

As Piper pets Baby, Ree arrives with her dog, Ajax, and food for Baby. She instructs Piper to fill up an empty yogurt container with water for Baby. Piper tells Dylan to wait in the bathroom, as Ree, with her dreadlocks, eyebrow ring, and big dog, seems a little scary.

When Piper returns with the water, Ree tells her that Jewel fell sick and went to the hospital; while she is away, Ree and some of the other park dwellers will take care of Baby. As Piper leaves, she sees Ree promise Baby that Jewel will be back soon.

Baby recognizes Piper when she holds him close and reads the sorrow she carries in her heart. He sees that Piper needs him; a dog’s job “is to teach their human / what is important” (74), such as happiness, comfort from a full stomach, and being with loved ones.