The Tiger Rising

Sistine returns from her call and wonders why Rob and his father don’t have a phone. Rob explains that they’ve got nobody to talk to. Sistine looks up at the stars and shares that her parents met when they walked into each other while they were both looking up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Sistine was lucky enough to travel with them last year “when they were still in love” and see the Chapel herself (58). She offers to go to Italy with Rob sometime and show him. Sistine notes that the tiger can’t see the stars from its cage and repeats that they need to free it. Sistine asks how Rob’s mother died. Rob replies that she died from cancer, but that his father told him not to talk about her. Sistine pressures Rob to quickly say his mother’s name. He quietly says “Caroline” (60). Sistine promises to return so they can plan how to free the tiger. Sistine’s mother arrives. She has her daughter’s angular profile, but slightly lighter-colored hair and a “tighter” mouth (60). She impatiently tells Sistine that she looks like a “hobo” (60), and to get in the car.