Contents
Chapter 1
Overview
Casey, an ex-teacher living in a remote New Hampshire cabin, fears her deteriorating roof will collapse during an imminent storm. Her landlord Rudy dismisses her concerns, delaying repairs and only vaguely promising a landscaper for a dangerously shifting tree. Casey’s isolation and regret deepen, escalating the chapter’s stakes.
Summary
Casey, now living in a remote New Hampshire cabin after losing her teaching job, confronts immediate danger: a failing roof that is shedding shingles ahead of a severe storm. After weeks of ignored calls, landlord Rudy finally arrives but downplays the risk despite visible damage.
Casey presses for urgent repairs, citing the incoming storm and her fear of collapse. Rudy refuses to act immediately, claiming he lacks tools and a ladder, and postpones repairs until after the storm, offering no firm date. His indifference fuels Casey’s frustration and sense of vulnerability.
Shifting focus, Casey highlights a massive tree near the cabin that visibly moves when she presses its trunk. Rudy grudgingly agrees to “call a landscaper” but provides no timeline, further emphasizing his negligence.
Left with only vague promises, Casey assesses her situation: the roof will probably hold, the tree probably won’t fall, and she probably won’t die. Her grim, isolating resignation underscores her deeper regret over the lost teaching career and her attempt to “relax” by escaping to the woods, where she feels that no one would miss her.
Who Appears
- CaseyFormer teacher living in a remote cabin; pushes for urgent roof and tree fixes before a storm; feels isolated and fatalistic.
- RudyNegligent landlord; minimizes roof damage and delays repairs; reluctantly agrees to call a landscaper about a shifting tree.