Chapter 7 Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary {#summary}
The chapter opens on the morning of the family's departure from Hong Kong. The atmosphere is tense and strange. Mom rushes from room to room gathering carry-ons while repeatedly reminding Dad to hand sanitize—even though it's the children and Mom who are about to board the risky flight. Dad, in turn, shares important details about each child that Mom, who has been away working frequently, doesn't know. He explains that Lea will only eat cucumbers with the skin peeled off, and that Knox needs daily lotion to prevent his eczema from flaring up. Knox, skeptical of Mom's reliability, silently vows to remember his lotion himself. He also clarifies that the lotion must be fragrance-free.
Mom mentions she has set up automatic credit card payments from their joint account. Dad expresses cautious hope about receiving his bonus, wondering aloud whether the virus will affect it. Mom tries to reassure him that the virus won't impact salaries or bonuses.
The family loads their luggage—including Bowen's skis, which Knox finds absurd for a trip to San Francisco—into the minivan. Cody, the family's labradoodle, whimpers when he sees the kids piling in, and Dad relents, allowing Cody to come along as far as the train station.
At the Airport Express station, the check-in counters are eerily empty. The departure board shows numerous flights cancelled or postponed. Mom is relieved to learn their United flight is still scheduled. When Bowen asks to borrow a pen from the counter worker for luggage tags, the worker refuses, citing health and safety precautions. This moment makes the seriousness of the pandemic feel real to Knox.
While waiting, Knox and Cody stop at the airport bakery. The scent of freshly baked egg tarts triggers a wave of nostalgia and anxiety in Knox, who fears he may never taste traditional Hong Kong egg tarts again. Dad tries to reassure him that San Francisco has dim sum, but Knox knows it won't be the same. He recalls their Sunday tradition at city hall, where the family would order dim sum from rolling carts—Bowen getting barbecue pork buns, Lea spring rolls, and Knox shrimp dumplings (har gao) with egg tarts for dessert. Those Sundays were the one time Knox and Bowen didn't argue.
After checking the bags, Dad walks the family to the train for their goodbyes. He jokes about being left behind with only Cody for company. Lea asks him to save some tickles for her, and Dad promises he will. Mom and Dad exchange a masked kiss, with Mom assuring him she's got everything under control.
Knox has a long mental list of things he wants to tell Dad—the combination to his lockbox (1-4-6), instructions not to show its contents to Bowen during FaceTime calls, to water his basil plant (a gift from his friend Amir), and to keep practicing the stay command with Cody. But when the moment comes, all he can manage is,