Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

As Sal is discharged from the hospital, he begs his parents to let him go to school, where he wants to read Gabi’s article. The doctor sides with Sal, stating that he can go to school if he takes it easy.

On returning to the Coral Castle, the family rushes to the bathrooms. The home’s undersized water heater means only the first person in the shower gets hot water. Fortunately, the recipient of the hot shower makes warm drinks for the others. Papi prepares hot cocoa for Sal and American Stepmom, then broaches whether Sal brought Mami Muerta on purpose. Sal explains his near-accident and how it triggered memories of a similar incident with his mother, resulting in him unintentionally bringing a Mami Muerta to their dimension. Papi accepts this explanation, but American Stepmom, an elementary school vice-principal, correctly suspects Sal is withholding information. Sal deflects by bringing up the remembranation machine, admitting he overheard their conversation.

Getting ready for school, Sal contemplates the dimensional rift in Yasmany’s locker. While he agrees with his father that even one calamitron in their universe is too many, Sal senses that the hole will eventually close. Nervous, he compensates by wearing as many pockets as possible and filling each with various