2013: Chapter Summary, Key Events, 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
The chapter opens on a morning in 2013 as the narrator arrives at Jet and Kendi's house. He notices that the painting of his mother and himself, which he created decades earlier, still hangs on the wall despite a recent renovation—a quiet testament to the family's enduring history. Jet, exhausted from assisting with an overnight delivery, greets him with a sleepy hug. Kendi then shares the news that they are expecting a girl, and they have chosen the name Apricity. The narrator offers congratulations, but internally he feels a sharp pang of jealousy—envy of Kendi's position at the untarnished beginning of parenthood, a stark contrast to his own complicated past.
After a brief breakfast of kolache and milk, Jet retreats to bed, and Kendi proposes a flight in a rented Cessna from a small airport outside Dallas. The narrator, who has rarely flown, agrees. As they ascend, the narrator is struck by the difference from commercial flight—the lower altitude reveals the sprawling landscape of the Great Trinity Forest and the winding Trinity River. The calm he feels in the air surprises him, and he begins to understand Kendi's love for flying.
During the flight, Kendi asks about the narrator's previous flying experiences. The narrator admits he has flown only a few times, including a trip to visit his dying father. He recalls that his father's only apology was for not being around more—nothing else. The narrator confesses he wouldn't have wanted his father around more anyway, a remark he immediately regrets as he realizes how it might echo Jet's feelings about him. Kendi, whose own father is deceased, responds thoughtfully, acknowledging that no father is perfect, especially as he prepares to become one himself.
The conversation shifts to memories of childhood. The narrator recalls how he used to show up tipsy and late to spend time with Jet, while she was often absorbed in games with Kendi. He remembers Lil's attempts to redirect Jet's attention, and Kendi's respectful stepping back. These recollections prompt the narrator to apologize directly to Kendi for the ways he has hurt Jet. Kendi accepts the apology, noting that the distance of the flight provides just enough perspective to make sense of things. The narrator reflects that a man can be sorry from any height and must say it while he can.
After landing, Kendi invites the narrator to fly again anytime. The narrator, calling him “son,” accepts the invitation, a gesture of reconciliation and a step toward a new understanding between them.
Key Events
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The narrator arrives at Jet and Kendi's house and sees his old painting still hanging.
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Jet and Kendi announce they are having a girl and name her Apricity.
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The narrator feels a pang of jealousy at Kendi's fresh start as a parent.
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Kendi takes the narrator on a flight in a rented Cessna over Dallas.
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The narrator reveals his father's deathbed apology, which was only about not being around more.
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Kendi reflects on fatherhood and the imperfection of all fathers.
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The narrator apologizes to Kendi for hurting Jet.
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Kendi says the distance of the flight helps make sense of things.
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After landing, Kendi invites the narrator to fly again, and the narrator accepts.
Character Development
The Narrator: This chapter marks a significant turning point for the narrator. He confronts his jealousy of Kendi's untainted beginning as a parent, acknowledging his own regrets. His admission about his father's apology reveals a deep-seated wound, but also a willingness to examine his own failures as a father. The apology he offers to Kendi is a rare moment of vulnerability and accountability, showing growth from the man who once showed up tipsy and late. His acceptance of Kendi's invitation to fly again signals a readiness to embrace new connections and perhaps a new chapter in his life.
Kendi: Kendi emerges as a mature and thoughtful figure. He handles the narrator's insensitive remark about his father with grace, turning it into a reflection on the imperfection of all fathers. His role as a soon-to-be father is central; he is consciously preparing to break the cycle of absence and regret. His invitation to the narrator to fly again is an act of generosity, offering a path toward reconciliation and shared experience.
Jet: Though Jet appears only briefly, her presence is felt. Her exhaustion from a delivery underscores her dedication to her work, and her joy in announcing the baby's gender and name highlights her happiness. The narrator's apology to Kendi is implicitly about Jet, and her absence from the flight allows the men to address the past without her direct involvement.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Apology and Regret: The chapter is steeped in apology. The narrator apologizes to Kendi for hurting Jet, and he reflects on his father's inadequate apology. The act of saying sorry becomes a central theme, emphasizing the importance of expressing regret while there is still time.
Fatherhood and Generational Legacy: Kendi's impending fatherhood is a lens through which the narrator examines his own relationship with his father and his role as a father to Jet. The conversation about imperfect fathers highlights the desire to break cycles of absence and neglect.
Flight as Perspective: The Cessna flight serves as a metaphor for gaining distance and clarity. Kendi's comment that “just enough distance to make sense of it all” applies both to the physical view of Dallas and to the emotional landscape of family relationships. The narrator's initial fear gives way to calm, suggesting that confronting the past from a new vantage point can be healing.
Apricity as Symbol of Hope: The name Apricity—meaning the warmth of the sun in winter—symbolizes hope and new beginnings. The baby girl represents a fresh start for the family, a counterpoint to the narrator's regrets and the fragility of happiness.
The Painting as Memory: The narrator's painting of his mother and himself, still hanging on the wall, symbolizes the persistence of memory and the inescapable presence of the past. It anchors the chapter's exploration of how family history shapes the present.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal for the narrator's emotional arc. It brings to the surface long-buried feelings of jealousy, regret, and the desire for reconciliation. The flight provides a literal and metaphorical elevation that allows the narrator to see his life from a new perspective, leading to a sincere apology and a tentative step toward healing. The introduction of Apricity as a symbol of hope and the emphasis on fatherhood create a powerful contrast between the narrator's past failures and the possibility of a better future for the next generation. The chapter also deepens the relationship between the narrator and Kendi, transforming it from one of mere tolerance to one of mutual respect and understanding.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the narrator feel jealousy toward Kendi when he learns about the baby?
The narrator envies Kendi's position at the “untarnished beginning” of parenthood. He wishes he could go back to that stage and undo the mistakes he made with Jet. The jealousy stems from his awareness of his own failures and the desire to have a fresh start, which Kendi now has.
2. How does the flight serve as a metaphor for the narrator's emotional journey?
The flight provides physical distance from the ground, which mirrors the emotional distance the narrator needs to gain perspective on his family relationships. As he soars above Dallas, he is able to confront his past and apologize to Kendi. The calm he feels in the air contrasts with his earlier nervousness, suggesting that facing his regrets can bring peace.
3. What does the narrator's apology to Kendi reveal about his character growth?
The apology shows that the narrator is willing to take responsibility for his actions and acknowledge the pain he has caused Jet. It is a departure from his earlier behavior of showing up tipsy and late. By apologizing directly to Kendi, he demonstrates a new maturity and a desire to repair relationships, even if he cannot undo the past.