Content Warning: The source material features depictions of sexual assault, sexual assault of children, the death of children, violence, and suicide. Additionally, the source material uses racist and sexist terms, and racist and/or sexist terms might appear in this guide in direct quotes of the source material.

Juniper Whitman is reading on a chaise next to the swimming pool behind her family’s new house. She is not fond of the new yard and prefers her old one that had large pine trees where she could find privacy. While she is reading, Xavier approaches from next door and says hello before working in his family’s yard.

Valerie, Xavier’s mother, was distraught when construction began next door, and she is not excited to meet the Whitman family. She does not know how to relate to people who would cut down all those trees. They also put her 80-foot oak tree at risk in the process of building their new home and pool.

Valerie is working in her garden when Xavier tells her the Whitmans have moved in. Xavier works on clearing a spot for the Koi pond Valerie wants to install. She feels that taking care of the fish will help ease her loneliness when Xavier leaves for college.