By February 20, everyone in the family is aware that they are nearly out of food. A few days earlier, Miranda’s mother was forced to cook tulip bulbs and while the children were horrified, they still ate them. Jonny has gotten stronger, and he begins skiing again with Miranda. Miranda manages to make the trek to Miller’s Pond on the skis, and imagines that she is skating in the Olympics. On February 22, the family wakes to find that they have electricity again. Though it only lasts for a few moments, this new development makes them feel that they might have a chance of surviving. On February 24, Miranda’s mother decides they should listen to the radio, and they find that there are stations broadcasting. They listen to a news reporter reading off the names of the dead, but find hope in the fact that people are alive and listening to the broadcast. They then hear a message from the president saying that things are getting better and everything should be back to normal by May.

Over the next few days, Miranda wonders what good the intermittent return of electricity is when they will soon die of starvation.