Now, Sal is oriented toward the future rather than feeling stuck in the past. Having come to terms with Momma’s death, Sal now sees the importance of accepting life for what it is and appreciating the people she has rather than staying mired in grief and judgment of others. She still misses Momma, but she’s also looking forward to spending time with her friends and continuing her relationship with Ben. Including Mrs. Cadaver in this list of friends shows how completely Sal has changed her thinking, as she now recognizes that people are complex—they aren’t all good or all bad, as Sal and Phoebe initially assumed. By ending on this note, the novel drives home the importance of its titular saying: “Don't judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.” By putting herself in other people’s shoes, Sal has a deeper and more nuanced understanding of herself and those around her, which has allowed her to form mature relationships that she deeply values.