Safety on Ferris Beach As Kate Burns goes through adolescence, she slowly begins to realize that change can never be avoided, and change really scares Kate. Naturally, Kate tries to preserve moments of security, where everything exists as she would like. Kate desires permanence; Kate's constant desire to stop time and freeze certain periods of time shows this desire. Kate takes mental snapshots of certain moments and simply cherishes and savors these moments. As Kate matures, she begins to understand that life's little surprises always bring the unexpected, both good and bad, and she must treasure the brief moments of security: I stepped into the middle of the road and stayed there, with the lights stretching in both directions, shining in the deep, cold air. I could see my breath, I could feel my heat as it formed right there in front of me. Behind me, our house seemed dark, vaguely lingering, as if I had walked a million miles, and I wasn't even sure if I was actually playing or if I was imagining something familiar, the same way a bright light remains when close your house. eyelids, just as I imagine that the sight of an eclipse would imprint its image in your eyes forever (page 75). Kate talks about "familiar", that's what this scene represents for Kate. The comfort of home is familiar to her. Kate has the confidence that almost everyone desperately seeks as they get older. Security that often eludes Kate. The image of Kate seeing her own breath and feeling her own warmth symbolizes her health and youth. Kate has everything as she would like. Let the perfect image burn in her eyes. Everything Kate loves dearly is presented to her with serenity: her friends, her family and her health.