Inferences
Why did Phoebe look as if "a whole family of the birds of sadness were nesting in her hair?"
Because she was sad and upset that her mother had left, and that people kept asking about her.
Why did Gramps call the water bed a raft?
Because the cover over the water made it seem like they were floating on a raft.
Why did Sal dream about floating on a raft and then dying with her mom?
Because of the story about the baby dying, and she, Gramps, and Gram all on the water bed.
Why did Phoebe say that the messages were clues?
Because she still wanted to believe that the lunatic kidnapped her and that she didn't just leave.