Unwind

Connor contemplates his travel companions. He “[…] knows that Lev can’t be trusted, that’s why Connor tied him to the tree—but there’s no reason to trust this girl who had come running out of a bus either. It’s only their common goal of staying alive that binds them” (43). As Connor considers their next move, he notices that Risa is pretty. He reaches out, without thinking, to touch her hair. Risa stops him, and Lev reminds them that he is still tied to the tree. When they untie him, Connor is surprised that Lev doesn’t run.

Connor, Lev, and Risa find an increasing amount of trash in the woods. This unsettles Risa, “because the first sign of civilization is always trash” (47). When they make it into town, Risa and Connor have a fake argument to see if Lev will run. He doesn’t, and Risa admires Connor’s ability to act. Despite her admiration, Risa can’t understand the strange, conflicting feelings for Connor that are growing within her. 

A 19-year-old mother wonders when she stopped being a child. “The law says it was when she turned eighteen, but the law doesn’t know her” (53). She has just given birth. She doesn’t consider putting the baby in a dumpster, given the circumstances:

It had become so common that [finding babies in dumpsters] wasn’t even deemed newsworthy anymore—it had become just a part of life. […] Funny, but the Bill of Life was supposed to protect the sanctity of life. Instead it just made life cheap (53).

The mother finds a housing complex and picks a house. She leaves the baby at the front door. As she runs down the street, she considers her second chance: “How wonderful it is that she can dismiss her responsibility so easily” (55).

Risa approaches a house, knocks, and convinces the woman who answers to give her some clothes “for charity.” The boys are impressed, and Risa tells them that it is better than stealing. While changing in the woods, Risa explains they must change their clothes so they look different from the descriptions given on TV. Connor calls them AWOLs, and Lev corrects him: “We’re felons….Because what you’re doing—I mean, what we’re doing—is a federal crime” (56). After they change, they make their way into a more crowded area. A young woman rushes past them.