Chapter 35 (Alicia) Summary: The Weight of Protection

⚠️ 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

The chapter splits between two timelines. In the “before” period at Wild Meadows, Alicia, Norah, and Jessica grow fiercely protective of the toddler Amy, who has come to live with Miss Fairchild. After social worker Sandi makes a routine visit, the girls notice a dusty doll marked “Amy” and sense something is wrong. Alicia tries to play with Amy using a teddy bear, but Miss Fairchild interferes. When Amy hits Miss Fairchild with a Barbie doll, Miss Fairchild slaps Alicia and later punishes Amy by putting her in a high chair. Amy kicks Miss Fairchild, who drops her; Amy hits her head. The girls comfort her, and Alicia even trains Amy to hug Miss Fairchild for chocolate to keep the peace. The tension peaks when the girls return from school to find Miss Fairchild in the pool with Amy, seemingly teaching her to swim while Amy nearly drowns. Jessica and Norah dive in to rescue her.

In the present therapy session with Dr. Warren, Alicia recounts her teenage years with her mother and abusive stepfather John. After he locked her in the basement, Alicia learned to avoid angering him—but also began provoking John’s rage toward her mother as an outlet. She eventually had a secret boyfriend, Troy, but John discovered them kissing and dragged Alicia back to the basement. Dr. Warren is visibly affected by Alicia’s story and seems reluctant for the session to end.

Key Events

Sandi visits Wild Meadows; the girls find a doll with “Amy” written on it.
Alicia plays with Amy using a teddy bear; Miss Fairchild snatches it away.
Amy hits Miss Fairchild with a Barbie; Miss Fairchild slaps Alicia.
Miss Fairchild punishes Amy in a high chair; Amy kicks her and falls, hitting her head.
Alicia bribes Amy with chocolate to hug Miss Fairchild.
The girls find Miss Fairchild in the pool with Amy; Jessica and Norah rescue Amy from nearly drowning.
In therapy, Alicia describes being locked in the basement by John and her mother’s silent complicity.
Alicia deliberately makes her mother look bad to redirect John’s anger.
Alicia has a relationship with Troy; John discovers them and punishes her by locking her in the basement again.
Dr. Warren seems sad when the session ends.

Character Development

Alicia: In the past, she steps into a maternal role for Amy, using small manipulations to keep the peace. In therapy, she reveals a survival strategy learned at home: turning her stepfather’s abuse toward her mother. Her need for someone to be “in her corner” becomes explicit.
Norah and Jessica: They act as a unit with Alicia, diving into the pool without hesitation to save Amy. Jessica, normally not athletic, runs and dives fully clothed.
Miss Fairchild: Her cruelty escalates. She deliberately puts Amy in danger and frames it as a lesson, showing she enjoys the power struggle.
Dr. Warren: His professional detachment cracks; he is sad to see Alicia leave, indicating growing empathy.
John: Portrayed through Alicia’s memory as controlling and physically abusive, using the basement as a prison.
Alicia’s mother: Remains silent throughout the abuse, which Alicia interprets as betrayal.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Protection vs. Self-Preservation: Alicia and her sisters risk themselves to protect Amy, yet Alicia admits she cannot save herself.
Manipulation as a Survival Tool: Alicia learns to manipulate both Miss Fairchild and John—bribing Amy for hugs, provoking her stepfather’s anger toward her mother.
The Symbol of the Doll: The dusty doll with “Amy” foreshadows that the child’s past may be hidden.
Water and Drowning: The pool scene literalizes the danger Miss Fairchild creates; Amy nearly drowns while Miss Fairchild claims “teaching to swim.”
The Basement as Confinement: Represents John’s control and Alicia’s powerlessness; her release from it only gives her limited freedom.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the parallel between the two timelines. Alicia’s past at Wild Meadows shows her learning to protect a vulnerable child—a role she may be replaying in the present. Her therapy confession reveals the roots of her manipulative behavior and her desperate need for love. The near-drowning of Amy underscores Miss Fairchild’s cruelty and the sisters’ solidarity. Dr. Warren’s emotional reaction hints at a developing connection that may affect the investigation or Alicia’s recovery.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Alicia deliberately provoke John’s anger toward her mother?
Alicia does this as an outlet for her own pain. By making her mother the target, she gains a measure of control and also tests whether her mother still cares for her—since her mother never reveals that Alicia caused the problems.

2. How does the pool incident reveal Miss Fairchild’s true nature?
Miss Fairchild claims she was teaching Amy to swim, but the timing—she knew the girls would arrive—suggests the act was a performance meant to intimidate. Her amusement at Jessica’s accusation (“you learned, didn’t you?”) confirms she finds cruelty entertaining.

3. What does Alicia mean when she says “every human being needs someone”?
Alicia expresses her core longing for unconditional support. After losing her father, being betrayed by her mother’s silence, and enduring John’s abuse, she craves one person who is truly “in her corner.” This need likely drives her attachment to Amy and her sisters—and possibly to Dr. Warren.