Chapter 2

Summary

In this chapter, Nicole and Evan wake up to a quiet morning in their rural home. Nicole offers to prepare breakfast while Evan rests, but later joins the family. As they go about their routine, they notice a disruption in cell service but remain unfazed. Evan reflects on the changes in their community, from improved infrastructure to the tradition of hunting. He prepares to finish processing a moose he hunted, while his friend Isaiah arrives to help. The chapter highlights the blend of modern conveniences and traditional ways of life in their community.

Takeaways

• ⏰ Nicole wakes up early to the sound of the alarm, while Evan stays in bed.
• 🍳 Nicole offers to handle the morning routine and get the kids breakfast, giving Evan more rest.
• 🌞 The sun is rising, casting a golden hue over the trees outside, and Evan reflects on the peaceful morning scene.
• 📱 Both Nicole and Evan realize their cell phones have no service, but it's not a major concern since outages are common in their remote area.
• 🐾 Evan had a successful moose hunt the previous day, which took him a long time to bring home.
• 🥣 The children, especially their son, are curious about Evan's hunt, and Evan reflects on his own hunting experiences as a child.
• 🛠️ Evan prepares to work on the moose meat, while his daughter, curious about the animal, asks to see it but is too young to join the hunt.
• 📺 Evan and Nicole realize that without TV, the children seem content, which makes them reconsider keeping it off more often.
• 🚗 Nicole takes their son to school, leaving Evan to finish cleaning up and work on preparing the moose meat.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Evan's friend Isaiah arrives to help with the moose, highlighting the close-knit, supportive nature of their community.

Q & A

What time does the chapter begin, and what action is taken by the characters in response to the alarm?

The chapter begins at 6:30 AM with the sound of a rapid, high-pitched alarm. Nicole hits the snooze button, while Evan rolls over and tries to go back to sleep.

What does Evan notice about the children's behavior in the morning?

Evan notices that the children are chatting more than usual, which he attributes to the satellite TV possibly being out of service.

How does Nicole offer to help Evan, and why?

Nicole offers to handle the children’s breakfast, telling Evan to go back to sleep because he had a long day the previous day.

What event from the previous day does Evan recall while talking to his son?

Evan recalls that he hunted and brought home a large moose the previous day, which took him a long time to extract from the bush.

How does the community’s connection to the outside world impact their reliance on cell service?

The community was recently connected to the hydro grid, and a cell tower was installed. However, cell service outages are still common, and most people haven't developed a strong dependence on it.

What traditions and teachings does Evan reflect on when interacting with his daughter?

Evan reflects on the teachings he has learned about offering tobacco when killing animals for food, a tradition taught to him by an elder. He also hopes his daughter will grow up questioning everything, becoming strong, intelligent, and a leader.

What changes in the community infrastructure does Evan reflect on?

Evan reflects on improvements in the community, such as the new elementary school, the hydro grid connection, and a permanent service road that connects the community to the main highway.

What task is Evan preparing to complete after breakfast?

Evan is preparing to go to the shed to finish working on the moose he hunted the previous day.

How does Evan’s friend Isaiah arrive, and what do they discuss?

Isaiah arrives on a four-wheeler, dressed in a neon vest over a camouflage jacket. They discuss the moose Evan shot, and Isaiah offers to help him finish it.

What is the significance of the cell service outage to the characters?

The cell service outage is an inconvenience but not alarming to the characters, as outages are common in their remote community. Evan and Isaiah plan around it without much frustration.