Son: Book 1, Chapter 13  Summary & Analysis

Claire begins running into the man and Abe regularly in the mornings and evenings. Now, Abe waves goodbye and mimics her silly faces, such as when she sticks her tongue in her cheek to make a bump. He’s now about 10 months old and, according to the man, he’s trying to walk. One day, he asks Claire to get out Abe’s “comfort object,” which is “called hippo.” Abe nibbles happily on Po’s ear as the man invites Claire to come to the Nurturing Center to play with Thirty-Six while he attends to the newborns.

Soon after, when the supply boat returns, Claire finally sees Marie. The boy she spoke to once isn’t on the boat this time, and Claire’s coworker, Heather, disinterestedly says that in other communities, people might be able to choose their jobs and leave if they get bored. They observe Marie, who’s heavy and wearing a stained apron. Claire and Heather puzzle over the fact that on the boat, someone—Marie—must prepare all the food (in their community, all meals are delivered). When Claire asks if Heather would ever tour the boat, Heather wonders if it’s even allowed, but she adds that she’s not interested in boats. Claire, though, is privately very interested in Marie and in life on the boat. What is Marie’s life like? And Marie’s size is shocking to Claire, as everyone in the community is about the same size thanks to their specially calibrated meals.

Claire excuses herself from her conversation with Heather to check on the lower holding pond, which is near the river. She’s not going to go aboard the boat; she just wants to see it closer. She also feels like the boat is “lur[ing]” her closer, in the same way she feels compelled to visit Abe. At the pond, Claire studies the boat until, suddenly, the engine comes on and the boat heads out into the river. Claire returns to the Hatchery when she hears the midday meal bell, and she decides to visit Abe tomorrow.