"I mean-- it's what I'm used to." This is unusually close to civilian life, for her. "I guess-- things are always different, like if your dad's shipped out than if he's at home. And you know you might have to move, or your friends might have to. So you keep everything neat-- it's just easier."

It's harder to explain the specifics of what it's like, when her father's home or when he isn't. That Ahab is strict-- but it's less and more than that; it's not as though her mother doesn't run a tight ship. But it's different; the house is full, differently, when he's home, and when he's gone she can't help but think of the ocean.