Klara and the Sun

Klara grows accustomed to Josie’s house. She perceives and remembers spaces with a system of spatial “boxes” and gets confused if household items are moved. Melania, the housekeeper, is sometimes irritated by Klara’s presence: “She seemed often to wish to shorten the time I spent with Josie—which of course ran counter to my duty” (51). During the day, Chrissy goes to work as an attorney, and Josie takes virtual lessons with tutors. Chrissy makes it a point to have breakfast with Josie every morning. Melania doesn’t want Klara to join Josie and Chrissy for breakfast and coffee in the mornings, but Josie insists. Some mornings are pleasant and easygoing while others can be tense; for example, Chrissy sometimes takes Josie’s jokes too seriously.

Most evenings, Josie and Klara watch the sunset from Josie’s room. One night, Josie interrupts a conversation with her mother to bring Klara upstairs. Klara asks about the barn on the horizon which the sun appears to set behind, and Josie tells her it’s Mr. McBain’s barn. Josie asks “why the Sun would go for his rest to a place like that,” and Josie jokes that “you’d think the Sun would need a palace, minimum” (56).