Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, death by suicide, bullying, child sexual abuse, and substance use.

Amy Shred must awaken her father from a nap: While jumping on the couch, her older sister, Olivia “Ollie” Shred, accidentally launched herself into the window. Glass shards are everywhere, embedded in Ollie’s skin. When the EMTs arrive to take Ollie to the hospital in an ambulance, Dad tells Amy to stay behind. Amy tries to vacuum up the remaining glass, trying to find an outlet for her nervous energy, but the vacuum cannot handle the mess.

When Dad returns, he tells Amy that Ollie will come home tomorrow. She is fortunate that most of the damage was done to her back—not a shard touched her beautiful face. Mom has been away on a bridge cruise with some friends, and Dad decides not to tell her what happened when she returns. Instead, Mom tells them about her trip, giving Ollie a souvenir bear, of which Ollie has a collection.

Amy and Ollie were rivals from the start. Where Amy is “slow and methodical,” Ollie “c[a]n’t stand waiting for anything” (6). Ollie bullies Amy, calling her names and stealing her food.