CHAPTER 1: PRELUDE
With the dog half dead, winter mice sneak into the house to empty his bowl.
CHAPTER 2: SUMMER NIGHTS
They follow the train tracks to where they heard the swimming hole would be. He wants to be in love so bad, despite not being able to see the water, he jumps off the trellis into darkness.
CHAPTER 3: FLASHBACK
Walking to the bus stop, he warns her against kicking through the piles of dead leaves in the street. His sixth grade teacher had effectively warned the class about the dangers of hypodermic needles.
CHAPTER 4: THE NEW HOUSE
An elementary school at the bottom of an icy hill. No other way down.
CHAPTER 5: WINTER THAW
When the snow melted they discovered the missing stroller on the treebelt—like the femur of a dinosaur half uncovered at a dig site.
CHAPTER 6: TITLE TK
The baby goes to the state.
CHAPTER 7: DENOUEMENT
Everyone dies or wants to die.