Hello, Universe

Valencia is still in the grocery store with her mother. She’s been sent to the produce aisle for avocadoes. While she’s selecting them, Valencia glances at the bulletin board near the exit, which displays Kaori’s business card. Valencia is intrigued. She wants to ask the psychic about her recurring solar eclipse dream. They exchange texts, and Valencia debates about making an appointment. On her way back to meet her mother, Valencia crosses paths with Chet. She says:

I don’t even think of him as Chet. I think of him as Scrunch […] His face is scrunched up, like he’s sniffing something offensive. He’s got beady eyes and round cheeks and they’re all shoved up together. Meanness always shows on people’s faces (70).

Chet is still in the Super Saver shopping with his father. He thinks his father is a smart and powerful man who knows the secrets to success in life. Mr. Bullens makes fun of the deaf Valencia, the overweight woman in the checkout line ahead of them, and the cashier with acne. He explains his philosophy to his son: “Sometimes the only way to teach people was to embarrass them, wake them up, make them see the error of their ways.