12. Pennies and Grits

Summary

• Kya, feeling increasingly lonely and observant of local boy Tate, connects with him from a distance but is hesitant to approach him directly.
• Her self-care dwindles as she becomes lackadaisical about cleaning and personal grooming, and she frequently admires a vintage dress of her mother's that she's too young and small to wear.
• After seeing a group of local children playing on the beach, Kya longs for their companionship and camaraderie. She feels excluded but is unsure how to join in.
• Kya's life becomes hard when her main source of income, selling mussels, is undercut by competitors. She becomes financially destitute and has to innovate new ways of earning a living.
• Kya begins to smoke fish for sale, turning to Jumpin', a local shopkeeper, for help. Jumpin' agrees to sell them on her behalf.
• Jumpin's wife, Mabel, decides to help Kya after seeing her struggle. She proposes giving Kya clothes and other necessary items in exchange for smoked fish.
• Mabel and Jumpin' work out a barter system with Kya to help her get by.
• Kya begins farming after Mabel provides her with seeds and explains how to plant them.
• Around this time, Kya discovers one of her mother's old barrettes in the ground, invoking painful memories of her family who has abandoned her.
• Kya collects the clothes and provisions from Jumpin' and Mabel, providing some relief from her burdens. She's extremely grateful and pledges to pay them back by providing more smoked fish.