Bird is excited for Thanksgiving, and she is not alone, as “Everyone who remembered Snow seemed glad to hear she’d be back” (248). Boy grows tired of Olivia’s gloating and, as a result, stops attending her coffee hours. Bird, likewise, feels angry, but her anger is “about the things people were saying, the way they were making Snow sound like some kind of ornament […] being passed around” (250).

In September, Bird attends a joint birthday picnic for Louis and another classmate; Boy lends her a “blanket-sized U.S. flag in exchange for [her] promise that [she’d] guard it with [her] life” (249). The blanket is likely the one Charlie gave her, but Bird is unaware of its significance. After eating—and having a food fight—everyone falls asleep, Louis resting on Bird’s stomach. Bird doesn’t sleep, only rests, and pays attention as everyone leaves. When Louis leaves, she looks around and is alone. She sits up, and the flag is wrapped around her by someone unseen, even though she looks right at this person. She feels the person’s arms around her, and the person kisses her. She is unsure what to make of the situation, later, and she doubts “those kisses were even meant for [her].