11

Summary

• Joe is preoccupied with thoughts about the future of the farm and the possibility of developers taking over.
• Maisie receives a message asking her to euthanize a litter of feral kittens, highlighting the harsh realities of rural life.
• Despite the workload, Joe insists that the family take a day off to go to the beach.
• The narrator feels guilty about not knocking off work early, but decides to go to the beach after Joe's insistent persuasion.
• The trip through the woods to the beach is reminiscent of both the family's history on the farm and the natural beauty of the land.
• Emily, the narrator's daughter, expresses her wish to keep the current moment forever during their time on the beach.
• The narrator and Emily discuss Emily's decision not to have children, their fears for the future, and the fate of the cherry farm.
• Emily reveals that she never forgave her parents for burning old cherry trees when she was a child, symbolizing her current fears of loss.
• The family tries to enjoy their day off at the beach, but underlying tensions and past traumas seep into their conversations.
• The chapter includes a flashback to the narrator's past experiences with a theater director, a visit to a cherry farm, and the close-knit community of actors.
• The chapter ends on the beach with the family still processing their emotions and trying to find some peace amid their worries.