Sal is finding that it’s hard work to empathize with Phoebe and really comfort her. But at the same time, Sal also recognizes that Phoebe might not want to be comforted. Just as Sal didn’t want to hear Dad tell her the truth when Momma left, Phoebe might not want to accept any kindness or advice from Sal. Sal’s dream in this passage is similar to the other dream she had of herself and Momma floating together, first on the raft and then in the sky. The image of Sal looking up at Momma as she climbs higher and higher could suggest that Sal now feels more distant from her mother than she did when Momma first left—or it could simply reflect Sal’s feeling of smallness and helplessness in reaction to Momma leaving her behind.