Response to Question 2

At a college reunion Martha reunited with Lt. Jimmy Cross. At this time she had become a Lutheran missionary and had done service in Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Mexico. She never married anyone and she told Cross that she was not sure why. Martha then became Lt. Jimmy Cross's romantic love. He burns her letters and photos while trying to get over the guilt he feels for being responsible for Ted Lavender's death. Lt. Cross's love for Martha is also represented by the small pebble, which she gave him, but the easily disposable pebble, which weighs about an ounce, represents a much heavier emotional burden that he cannot rid himself of.