Chapter 16: Labor

Summary

• Elizabeth and Six-Thirty are discussing returning books to the library and considering reading "Moby-Dick".
• Elizabeth reads aloud to Six-Thirty to promote brain development; he knows 391 words but is unsure about the concept of "smart".
• Six-Thirty considers cows smarter than humans assume and learns about the vast number of human languages.
• He observes children drawing with chalk but can't draw himself; he finds a child's realistic depiction of a dead puppy in a drawing.
• While walking to the library, Elizabeth feels hungry and discusses her scientific observations of her pregnancy.
• Six-Thirty is aware that Elizabeth's water has broken and that she is experiencing prelabor contractions.
• Thirteen hours later, Elizabeth gives birth to a baby girl, and Dr. Mason expects them to stay in the hospital for a few days.
• Elizabeth, worried about Six-Thirty, leaves the hospital the next day, using her rowing training as an excuse to the nurse.
• Returning home, Six-Thirty is overjoyed to see Elizabeth and the new baby, which he names Nine Twenty-Two.
• The chapter ends on a hopeful note with the new family but turns tense when the baby starts crying.