“My older sister has entire kingdoms inside of her, and some of them are only accessible at certain seasons, in certain kinds of weather. One such melting occurs in summer rain, at midnight, during the vine-green breathing time right before sleep. You have to ask the right question, throw the right rope bridge, to get there-and then bolt across the chasm between you, before your bridge collapses.”

Ava describes Ossie’s possessions, which are a major factor that separates them as sisters. Ava has learned to navigate these possessions and understands how to reach different sides of Ossie. This demonstrates her nature as a survivor and shows how, though she does not understand her sister fully, she nevertheless has discovered a way to communicate with her. More broadly, this quote symbolizes an exploration of any relationship with an emotionally unavailable person.

“We keep giggling, happy and nervous, tickled by an incomplete innocence. We both sense that some dark joke is being played on us, even if we can't quite grasp the punch line.” 

The quote encapsulates the feeling of the first story in the collection but also speaks to the uncertain period between childhood and adulthood that is the subject of all the stories. All of the characters have an incomplete innocence, understanding some of the adult world and knowing that there are more revelations to come. The idea that there is a dark joke with no punchline conveys the feeling of subtle dread that pervades many stories.

“When you’re a kid, it’s hard to tell the innocuous secrets from the ones that will kill you if you keep them.” 

Ava struggles toward adulthood throughout the story. This quote refers to the fact that Ava is hiding an implied sexual assault by the Bird Man, a dangerous secret that likely had far reaching effects after the end of the story. She refers to the Bird Man as both a secret and a “beau,” indicating her profound childlike confusion about romance and sexuality as a result of her isolation and