Chapter 10: Doctor’s Visit — Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
During a routine checkup after her fall from the slide, Bela meets with Dr. Smith, a tall bearded man she compares to Abraham Lincoln. Her parents, Mommy and Daddo, accompany her. Dr. Smith tries to get Bela to describe what happened herself, asking if she felt dizzy or scared before falling. Mommy insists she was watching the whole time, but Bela knows that’s not entirely true. When pressed, Bela admits she was scared and reluctantly mentions “Other Mommy”—a name she hasn’t used in years. The doctor’s questions reveal a discrepancy between the parents’ version of events and Bela’s experience. Mommy wants to cancel the evening party. Daddo asks how Dr. Smith knew to ask about seeing something strange. The doctor notes Bela’s usual coordination and suggests her fall wasn’t accidental. He examines her for a concussion but finds no signs. The scene ends with Dr. Smith remarking that the wallpaper’s chasing geese and ducks might appear to catch each other out of the corner of one’s eye, echoing the theme of lurking threats.
Key Events
- Bela describes Dr. Smith’s appearance and the wallpaper with geese chasing ducks.
- Dr. Smith asks Bela to explain the fall, but Mommy interrupts to say Bela fell backward down the slide.
- Bela lies, saying she was just backing up, and denies dizziness or disorientation.
- When Dr. Smith asks if she was scared, Bela says yes and then says “Other Mommy” when asked what scared her.
- Mommy and Daddo are surprised Bela used that name again; they claim not to know who Other Mommy is.
- Mommy suggests canceling the party they had planned for the evening.
- Daddo asks Dr. Smith why he assumed Bela might have seen something strange.
- Dr. Smith explains Bela is usually coordinated, implying the fall was suspicious.
- He checks Bela’s eyes and speech, finding no concussion symptoms.
- Dr. Smith mentions that the wallpaper’s chase might look real in peripheral vision.
Character Development
Bela – Demonstrates growing awareness of when adults are not fully honest. She notices Mommy wasn’t watching her the whole time, yet both lie to the doctor. Her decision to mention Other Mommy shows she is wrestling with whether to share her fears. She also shows self-preservation by not revealing everything.
Mommy – Protective and anxious, she interrupts and tries to control the narrative. Her fast talking and insistence that she was watching reveal her guilt or concern. She wants to cancel the party, indicating the incident unsettles her deeply.
Daddo – More analytical and curious, he asks Dr. Smith why he suspected a visual trigger. He helps translate the doctor’s medical language but does not challenge Mommy’s version.
Dr. Smith – Perceptive and calm, he notices Bela’s usual physical confidence and probes for a non-accidental cause. He respects Bela by addressing her directly and does not dismiss the mention of Other Mommy.
Other Mommy – Though only mentioned, this name resurfaces after years, hinting at a persistent imaginary (or real) presence that Bela associates with frightening moments.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Lying and truth – Both Bela and her parents lie to Dr. Smith. Bela hides the full story; Mommy claims she watched the whole time. This chapter explores how families construct a shared story that omits uncomfortable truths.
Imaginary friends as threat – Other Mommy is not a comforting imaginary friend but a source of fear. The name itself (“Other Mommy”) suggests a distorted version of the mother, raising questions about maternal duality.
Peripheral vision and unseen dangers – Dr. Smith’s final comment about seeing a goose catch a duck “out of the corner of my eye” echoes Bela’s earlier perception of hairy fingers. The motif of catching something in one’s peripheral vision recurs as a way to sense what cannot be faced head‑on.
Parental conflict and trust – The disagreement over whether to cancel the party highlights tension between Mommy and Daddo. Dr. Smith’s probing exposes cracks in the parents’ unified front.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 10 introduces an external, trusted adult who sees through the family’s façade. Dr. Smith’s observation that Bela is “not the type to fall” validates that the incident was not mere clumsiness. The chapter deepens the mystery of Other Mommy by having the parents react with surprise and evasion. It also builds the emotional stakes: Bela must decide whom to trust, and the trauma from the slide may have lasting effects. The wallpaper ducks-and-geese chase becomes a symbol of a predator-prey dynamic that mirrors Bela’s situation.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bela lie to Dr. Smith about what happened?
Bela lies partly because she sees her mother lying (“I was watching the whole time”) and partly because she fears that revealing the truth—that Other Mommy appeared—might make the entity turn to her parents. She also senses that the adults are not entirely ready to hear the full story.
2. What does Mommy’s reaction to Dr. Smith’s questions reveal about her?
Mommy becomes defensive and speaks quickly, a sign of anxiety. She insists she was watching, which Bela knows is false. This shows Mommy is trying to control the narrative and avoid blame or deeper inquiry into what really caused the fall.
3. How does Dr. Smith’s approach differ from that of Bela’s parents?
Dr. Smith addresses Bela directly, asks open-ended questions, and reads her physical coordination as evidence that the fall was not accidental. He remains calm and does not dismiss the mention of Other Mommy, whereas her parents react with surprise and claim not to know who that is.