Esquibel "Squid" Cabrillo
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Karl Shoemaker
Quote 1
When Squid finished, he put his head down and muttered for a moment. I glanced his way. "Oh, Mom always said it was stupid to give thanks before you got the thing, the time to thank was after you had it, so she said grace at the end of the meal. So I—well, you know."
"Yeah. Every time I pick up a tool I hear my dad's voice." (16.140-141)
Squid and Karl (and Paul, even though he's not in this passage) all share the common experience of losing a parent. For them in particular, the kindness Karl showed Squid when his mom died has made this commonality a special bond for them. To talk about the things they miss about their parents is a language both can easily understand.