Chapter 25: Jessica Blocks the Door

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In this flashback chapter (titled “Before”), Jessica recalls a period when Miss Fairchild’s behavior became intolerable. The foster mother shrieks at Alicia for feeding crackers to a baby, accuses the girls of causing the babies to cry, and appears increasingly erratic—possibly drinking. The first nighttime rampage occurs after midnight. Miss Fairchild bursts into the girls’ room and wakes a nine-month-old named Suzy whom Jessica had just settled. The next night she does it again. Desperate, Norah suggests blocking the door with a wardrobe. Jessica and Alicia help, and they manage to keep the door shut while Miss Fairchild bangs, screams, and curses outside. Norah shouts “Go away, you psycho bitch!” and the noise stops. They spend a sleepless night worrying about the consequences. Jessica pinkie-promises Norah that if they are split up, she will find her. The next morning they dress in silence, remove the barricade, and go downstairs—but Miss Fairchild is nowhere to be found.

Key Events

Miss Fairchild’s escalation: She berates Alicia for feeding crackers to a baby, then later blames the girls for making babies cry.
First nighttime rampage: Miss Fairchild bursts into the room after midnight, wakes Suzy, and leaves.
Second nighttime rampage: She repeats the intrusion the following night.
The barricade: Norah, Jessica, and Alicia move a wardrobe to block the door. Miss Fairchild tries to force her way in but fails.
Norah snaps: She calls Miss Fairchild a “psycho bitch,” and the banging stops.
Sleepless vigil: The girls stay awake, fearing punishment and separation.
The pinkie promise: Jessica vows to track down Norah and Alicia if they are ever split up.
Miss Fairchild’s disappearance: The next morning, the house is eerily quiet, and Miss Fairchild is gone.

Character Development

Jessica: She is the pragmatic leader, trying to keep the baby quiet and prevent escalation. Her calmness cracks when she feels her sisters’ fear, and she makes a heartfelt pinkie promise that reveals her deep loyalty.
Alicia: She voices the group’s exhaustion and hopelessness (“This can’t continue”). She participates in the barricade despite her caution.
Norah: Usually the most withdrawn, she takes the boldest action by proposing the barricade and shouting at Miss Fairchild. Her outburst shows a breaking point and unexpected defiance.
Miss Fairchild: Her alcoholism and cruelty are on full display. The nighttime intrusions are calculated to provoke and punish. Her disappearance leaves the girls (and the reader) unsettled.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Solidarity under threat: The phrase “one in, all in” governs the sisters’ actions. Blocking the door together symbolizes their united front against abuse.
Power and powerlessness: Miss Fairchild holds institutional power (food, shelter) but the girls reclaim a small space by barricading their room. The wardrobe becomes a symbol of temporary resistance.
Fear of separation: Norah’s trembling question about being split up highlights the precarious nature of foster care. Jessica’s pinkie promise is a lifeline of hope.
Escalating abuse: The chapter traces a pattern from verbal attacks to nighttime harassment, showing how abuse intensifies when victims try to cope.
Alcohol as a catalyst: Miss Fairchild’s slurring suggests intoxication lowers her inhibitions, making her unpredictable and more dangerous.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a turning point in the foster-home narrative. It is the first time the girls deliberately defy Miss Fairchild as a team, moving from passive survival to active resistance. The pinkie promise cements their bond and becomes a critical emotional anchor for the whole story. Miss Fairchild’s sudden disappearance creates a mystery that resonates into the present-day timeline: Where did she go, and what happened next? The events here also deepen the reader’s understanding of the trauma the sisters carry and why they remain so fiercely protective of one another as adults.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Norah suggest blocking the door, and what does this action reveal about the girls’ state of mind?
Norah proposes the barricade because they are exhausted and desperate after two nights of Miss Fairchild’s intrusions. The action shows they have reached a breaking point: they no longer believe compliance will protect them, so they risk severe punishment for a chance at peace.

2. How does the pinkie promise function in this chapter, and why is it significant for the overall novel?
The pinkie promise is a childhood ritual that Jessica uses to reassure Norah that they will not be separated. It becomes a symbol of unbreakable loyalty. In the broader story, it foreshadows the sisters’ lifelong commitment to each other and may echo in present-day conflicts when that bond is tested.

3. What might Miss Fairchild’s disappearance in the morning foreshadow?
Her absence creates a gap in the timeline. It could mean she has abandoned the house, been injured, or simply retreated to plan harsher punishments. For the reader, it raises questions that will be answered later—perhaps linking to the police investigation or an earlier crime hinted at in the present.