As she drives, Betty points out various buildings; some were designed by architects who were famous on Earth, though not all artists continue practicing their craft in Elsewhere. Privately, Liz observes that Elsewhere looks largely the same as Earth—a fact that only heightens her frustration.

Liz asks Betty to explain her earlier remarks about getting younger, which Betty somewhat hesitantly does: “When I got here, I was fifty. I’ve been here for just over sixteen years, so now I’m thirty-four. For most older people, Lizzie, this is a good thing. I imagine it isn’t quite as appealing when one is your age” (50). Continuing, Betty explains that when a person reaches seven days old, they’re placed in a river and returned to Earth.

Realizing that she’ll never become an adult, Liz grows angry, yelling that it’s unfair that she won’t have the chance to go to college, marry, or even get her driver’s license. Betty tries to cheer Liz up by letting her drive the rest of the way home. As Liz continues to brood, she becomes careless with her driving, hitting the retaining wall when Betty tells her to exit the freeway.

The crash dents the car, but Liz and Betty are unhurt. Betty explains that people in Elsewhere can be injured but not killed: “everything eventually heals when one ages backward” (54). Liz starts crying, and Betty tries to hug her before giving up and driving the rest of the way home. She offers to help Liz get her license, but Liz considers the offer pointless. 

Liz dreams that she wakes from a coma and resumes her former life. However, when she actually wakes, it is to her grandmother announcing that her “acclimation appointment” is at 8:30 AM. Liz doesn’t see any point in getting up, but Betty insists, saying she can borrow some clothes to wear in place of her pajamas.

Liz is unable to find anything she likes amongst Betty’s clothes, and she becomes even more depressed as she wishes for her old closet and wardrobe. Betty tries to assure her that she understands how difficult the transition can be and says Liz can buy some new clothes later. Just before leaving, Liz looks out the window and notices a garden overflowing with trees and flowers. Betty explains that she loves gardening but can’t bring herself to properly trim it, because flowers have such short lives.

Liz declines Betty’s offer to let her drive, saying there’s no point. Betty then apologizes for her “tour guide routine” the night before (63); she was eager to impress Liz, whom she has watched periodically from the Observation Decks (a place where residents of Elsewhere can pay to observe people on Earth). As Liz considers whether she’d like to check in on Zooey, who was noticeably absent from Liz’s funeral, Betty points out “the Registry”—the building where her appointment will take place. She offers to come inside, but Liz says she wants to do this alone. 

Liz gets lost inside the registry and is late by the time she finds her way to an irritated receptionist. The woman ushers her into a darkened room to watch an orientation film narrated by a talking parrot; the video covers some of the topics she had previously discussed with Betty, and it also informs her that contact with Earth is forbidden and that an “avocation” is required. As the film delves into the metaphysics of human existence, likening it to both a circle and a line, Liz begins to fall asleep.

After waking Liz up and scolding her, the receptionist introduces her to Aldous Ghent—a cheerful, sixty-something “acclimation counselor” with a messy office. As the two discuss the circumstances of Liz’s death, Aldous reveals that he and his wife Rowena once lost their young son in a firearm accident; unfortunately, by the time he and Rowena died, their son had returned to Earth. Liz also admits that she didn’t initially realize she had died, and Aldous assures her that that's common, especially for young people. Moving on to the topic of acclimation, Aldous asks whether Liz has thought about an avocation. Liz isn’t enthusiastic about the idea, but she eventually says that she has always been passionate about animals (especially dogs).

As the two talk more about Liz’s former life, Liz begins crying; she only now realizes how happy and lucky she truly was. Aldous comforts Liz. He explains that people who die aged 16 or under can choose to return to Earth within their first year in Elsewhere. However, exercising this “Sneaker Clause” would mean returning as a baby rather than as her old self. When Liz presses him about the possibility of returning to her former life, Aldous cautions her against pursuing the issue. Life on Elsewhere, he insists, is really no different than life on Earth: “I think you’ll find […] that dying is just another part of living, Elizabeth” (78-79).

Aldous escorts Liz to the “Department of Last Words,” where she’s asked to confirm what her final words were. Liz can’t remember, and she is dismayed to learn that the last thing she said was “um,” though she also finds it “strangely appropriate” in its meaninglessness (81).

While thinking about this, Liz runs into Thandi, who embarrassedly admits that her last words included a lot of cursing about being shot. As Aldous comes to collect Liz, Thandi says that she’s now living with her cousin Shelly, and she urges Liz to visit.

Aldous tells Liz that he’s learned of a position at the Division of Domestic Animals (DDA) that she might enjoy. He asks whether she speaks “Canine” and is shocked to learn that “they still aren’t teaching it in Earth schools” (84). Her interest piqued, Liz lies that she learns languages easily, but she says she needs some time to herself before taking any job. Aldous accepts this but warns her not to put off starting her new life for too long. This irritates Liz, who retorts that her real life was on Earth. She then storms outside, where Betty is waiting for her, and she asks to go to the Observation Decks (OD). Reluctantly, Betty agrees.