Counting by 7s

Willow's Vietnamese has improved, and she understands the manicurists when they speak to each other at the salon. It is painful for her to hear them talk about their families all day because “they are joined by blood and circumstance and shared experience” (184), which Willow no longer has. Children's Services call Pattie to inform here there will be a home visit in the evening, so Pattie calls Dell for a ride.

Dell reluctantly brings Pattie and Willow to his apartment at the Gardens of Glenwood. It is apparent right away that the Nguyens do not live among Dell's hoarded junk. The enormous challenge of transforming this dirty space into her fake home does not discourage Pattie, and the first step she takes is to buy supplemental furniture. With the furniture in place, Dell heads out with a grocery list while Pattie and Willow tackle the piles of trash.

Dell picks Quang-ha up from school, and on the phone, Pattie instructs her son to pick up some belongings from their home to bring to Dell's. Upon seeing their garage setup, Dell understands why they use his address. By the time they return to Gardens of Glenwood, Quang-ha starts to feel excited by this elaborate plan, because it feels “like some kind of prison break” (200).