Summary: Jeannette and her family live in an old railroad depot in Battle Mountain. Rex gets a job as a electrician. One day after school, Jeanette and her brother Brian go to their "laboratory" (an old shed) with flammable stuff from the dump. They put a match on the flammable stuff and the shed catches on fire. Jeannette runs to get help for her brother, and sees her dad walking home from work. They save Brian. Jeannette learns how to swim.

Main characters: In this chapter the main characters are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Brain, and Lori.

Character development: Jeannette really loves her parents. In every chapter she gets closer to them. Her and Brian spend a lot of time together.

Setting: In this chapter the family lives in Battle Mountain. It takes place in the past. Jeannette is 7.

Quote: The most important quote in this chapter is " Dad told us that zone was known in physics as the boundary between turbulence and order. "You all got a little too close to it today." Dad said. " Rex says this as they watch the shed burn. It shows that he really cares about his kids. Sometimes he doesn't treat them well, but he always loves them.

Vocabulary: Obsidian: A volcanic glass similar in composition to granite.
Mangy: squalid; shabby.