All My Puny Sorrows

Yoli remembers how Lottie’s life changed after Elf left for Europe years prior. She went back to school and “became a social worker and then a therapist” (131). She gave secret sessions at the house to Mennonite women. The community disapproved of therapy. Yoli remembers asking Elf questions about Lottie’s clients and their mental health when they’d come to the house.

Yoli and Lottie collect Tina from the airport. In the car, Yoli holds Lottie’s shoulder and Tina’s hand. Seven years ago, Tina’s daughter, Leni, died by suicide. Jack had died three years prior. Yoli silently considers the connections between these events.

The family meets up with Nic at the hospital. Julie joins too. Elf is on a respirator because the bleach harmed her throat and internal organs. Later, Yoli watches Nic talk to the doctor through a glass window. Her mind drifts into the past, remembering the year Elf visited for Christmas and refused to join the family downstairs for dinner. Yoli locked herself in the bathroom with Elf and begged her to come down. Elf kept insisting that she couldn’t do it and started hitting her head on the wall. Finally, Yoli threatened to hurt herself if Elf didn’t join the family, which surprised Elf.