An interesting side note, today's bananas hardly existed before the 1950's.  There was a banana blight during the 1950's, the Panama Disease, that led to the eradication of the most commonly marketed, and best banana variety, the Gros Michel.  Since then, a lesser tasting and less nutritional variety, the Cavendish, has taken its' place.  Refer: https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-pandemic-threatening-bananas.html

Just thought that might interest you.

That said, quite a bewildering story, as you jump between one story line and another {clearly defined by italicized text}; as the timing seems a bit confused, or overlapping, as do Hazel's and Nathan's comparative sizes.

Still, an interesting story overall.