Sal occasionally finds that her father has been crying, and she knows the reason. Her father loves her mother very much, and he is finding it difficult to adjust to life without her. Mrs. Hiddle had left voluntarily to visit her cousin in Idaho. She is going alone. Mr. Hiddle wants to help his wife deal with her sorrow, but she can’t seem to find comfort within her family, as much as she loves them. Sal is refusing to accept the fact that her mother is not coming home, which leaves Mr. Hiddle having to deal with his sorrow by himself. He cannot help Sal because she won’t let him. He talks to Margaret Cadaver frequently, but Sal refuses to confide in their neighbor. Therefore, Mr. Hiddle finds some time to just cry by himself when Sal is not around.