Having given up his house on the island and become a commuter, Pat finds the daily boat rides to be “a celebration of sorts” (178). He enjoys “the feeling of being the only person in a vast stretch of water, the only index of civilization in the tenuous, light-flecked darkness of seven o’clock in the morning” (179). In order to prove his commitment to the island even though he is now living on the mainland, he makes the crossing even in severe cold, thick fog, and high winds and thunderstorms.

Pat’s commute becomes an issue in a growing tension between him and the school’s administration. The administration tells Pat that he can use the boat on Mondays and Fridays, but he must cover any additional costs incurred through commuting daily. He replies with an angry letter, explaining both the value he brings to the school and the additional supplies and visitors he can bring to island through “the extracurricular voyages of the boat” (191).

Pat arranges to speak before the school board, to ensure that they realize how badly Yamacraw Island is being served. However, on the day he is due to appear before the board, Ezra Bennington and two other officials visit him on the island.