If Only Chapter 6 Summary

Maki and Dad

  • Corinna tells us about her poodle, Maki. Her parents got him for her when she was eight, because she kept begging for a brother or sister.
  • She named him Maki because when he was a puppy, he looked like a little sushi roll. Corinna's mom taught her about sushi, which she learned to make when she was an exchange student in Tokyo.
  • On Sunday morning, Corinna comes downstairs to find her dad listening to The Beatles' song "Julia" and looking sad (even though her mom's name was Sophie).
  • They don't talk about her mom enough, so over a bowl of cereal, Corinna asks her dad if he thinks Sophie would have liked the Avatar movie.
  • He hugs her, accidentally spilling milk on her, and says yes.
  • After breakfast, Corinna has a heart-to-heart with Maki. She asks Maki if he also hates it when someone says her mom's death was part of God's plan.
  • No loving God, says Corinna, would have wanted Sophie Burdette to die.