Chapter 36 Summary & Analysis: Alicia’s Decision to Report

⚠️ 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 opens the morning after Jessica revealed that Miss Fairchild held her underwater as a “swimming lesson.” In bed, the three sisters—Alicia, Jessica, and Norah—decide they can no longer stay silent. Alicia is furious, arguing the drowning attempt was child abuse and even attempted murder. Jessica hesitates, fearing they will be separated if they report. Norah, usually the most fearful of separation, surprises Alicia by agreeing they must tell someone.

The next morning, they leave for school with difficulty. Two-year-old Amy, whom Miss Fairchild adopted six months earlier, clings to them and sobs. Miss Fairchild pries Amy away, impatient with the fuss. On the walk to school, the sisters are silent and grim. Norah is stoic, Jessica tearful; Alicia feels the weight of the possibility of separation but realizes that the sisters are everything to each other.

At school, they wait twenty minutes for Principal Mr. O’Day, who is on a call about sports funding. He ushers them into his office, decorated with a Shane Warne photo and sporting trophies. He has only two chairs, so Alicia stands. He gives them five minutes before he is due to judge a year 2 art show, but after hearing their first words he cancels his appointments and calls the police.

Two officers arrive: Sergeant Max Grady and Constable Robbie Hart. The girls say their foster mother is abusive. They mention Amy, and Max immediately sends a car to Wild Meadows. Then he asks for details. Alicia describes the pool incident from the day before. Jessica adds that two-year-olds cannot be left floundering underwater. Norah recounts how Miss Fairchild dropped Amy from a high chair after being kicked, then refused to let the girls comfort her. Alicia adds that Miss Fairchild barely feeds them, forces excessive cleaning, and drinks at night, roaming the halls.

The sergeant takes notes. Alicia realizes the abuse was never clear-cut—Miss Fairchild can always spin it as discipline or an accident. They have no tangible proof. Alicia mentions that Miss Fairchild took in babies through respite care and left the girls to care for them, causing poor school attendance. She also recalls being locked in the basement with Amy during a social worker visit.

Max receives a phone call and returns looking tense. He reports that police searched Wild Meadows but found no sign of Amy—no nappies, high chair, or baby clothes. Social services records show only three children in Miss Fairchild’s care: Alicia, Jessica, and Norah. There is no record of a toddler being fostered or adopted at Wild Meadows. According to the records, Amy does not exist.

Key Events

Alicia, Jessica, and Norah decide to report Miss Fairchild’s abuse after Jessica reveals she was held underwater as a child.
Amy clings to the sisters as they leave for school; Miss Fairchild forcibly separates them.
The girls wait for Principal O’Day, who cancels his art show appointment after hearing them.
Police arrive; Sergeant Max Grady and Constable Robbie Hart interview the girls.
The girls describe the pool incident, the high chair drop, lack of food, excessive cleaning, and nighttime drinking.
Alicia mentions the respite care babies and being locked in the basement with Amy.
Max receives a call and learns that police found no evidence of Amy at Wild Meadows.
Social services records show only three children in care—Amy does not exist in any official record.

Character Development

Alicia: Takes the lead in deciding to report, showing her protective nature and anger. Her internal realization that the sisters are “everything” to her deepens her emotional stakes.
Jessica: Initially hesitant and fearful of separation, she ultimately supports the decision. Her trembling at the end shows her vulnerability.
Norah: Surprises Alicia by immediately agreeing to report; usually terrified of being separated, she now prioritizes Amy’s safety.
Miss Fairchild: Despite not appearing in this chapter, her abuse is detailed through the girls’ testimony. Her cleverness in making abuse deniable is highlighted.
Sergeant Grady: Kind and professional initially, but becomes tense when the police find no trace of Amy, revealing the depth of the mystery.
Mr. O’Day: Dismissive of education, more interested in sports funding; his office decor underscores his priorities.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Silence and Speech: The sisters’ long silence about the abuse contrasts with their ultimate decision to speak. Their walk to school without a single word symbolizes the weight of their choice.
Institutional Failure: Mr. O’Day’s disinterest in anything beyond sports suggests the school system is ill-equipped to protect vulnerable children. The police records contradict the girls’ lived experience.
Sisterhood as Survival: The fear of separation has kept them quiet, but now they risk it for Amy. Alicia’s realization that the sisters are “everything” reinforces that family is chosen, not blood.
Vanishing Evidence: Miss Fairchild’s ability to erase Amy from official records points to the theme of truth versus record-keeping. Reality (Amy’s existence) is denied by documents.
The Basement: A recurring symbol of hidden abuse and secrets; the basement where Alicia and Amy were locked reappears here as a potential clue.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is a turning point: the sisters finally break their silence and report the abuse. Yet the chapter ends on a devastating twist—Amy has vanished from the house and from all official records. The police find no evidence of her existence. This reversal raises the stakes dramatically: not only is Amy in danger, but the girls’ credibility is now in question. The chapter deepens the mystery of Miss Fairchild’s true nature and the fate of Amy, propelling the plot toward the present-day timeline.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Jessica hesitate to report Miss Fairchild, and what changes her mind?
Answer: Jessica is afraid that reporting will cause the sisters to be separated and placed in different foster homes. She initially suggests they just watch Amy more closely. However, Norah’s agreement with Alicia convinces her that they must act to protect Amy, even at the risk of separation.
What evidence do the girls present to Sergeant Grady, and why is it insufficient?
Answer: They describe the pool incident (Amy underwater, Jessica’s past), the high chair drop, lack of food, excessive cleaning requirement, night drinking, respite care babies leading to truancy, and the basement lockdown. None of these incidents have physical proof or witnesses; Miss Fairchild can claim discipline or accidents. The abuse is designed to be deniable.
What is the significance of the police finding no trace of Amy at Wild Meadows?
Answer: It shows that Miss Fairchild has deliberately erased any evidence of Amy’s existence—removing all baby items and ensuring social services have no record. This raises questions about whether Miss Fairchild harmed Amy or hid her elsewhere. It also undermines the girls’ testimony, making them appear unreliable. The line “Amy doesn’t exist” becomes a chilling twist that reframes the entire investigation.