Jared continues to deal with the ramifications of using alcohol to dull reality: the next day, he doesn’t get to enjoy the day and has to deal with getting sick. Separately, Sarah’s warning about mentioning Mr. Jaks illustrates that she, too, has had to grow up with greater awareness and maturity than her peers. It’s unclear what Sarah’s home life was like before she came to live with grandparents—but given that her mom sent her away, it’s likely that she has a troubled home life, much like Jared does. And now, she must shoulder the burden of caring for two sick grandparents by herself.