Chapter 37: Chapter 36 – Teddy Summary and Analysis
Warning: This chapter summary contains spoilers for Lost and Lassoed up through Chapter 37.
Summary
In this chapter, Teddy recounts a morning spent with Riley after a long night with Gus. Though Gus had said he never wanted to let her go, Teddy avoids discussing it, instead letting Gus take care of her. She borrows one of his four-wheelers to reach the Big House, planning to walk home with Riley and search for wildflowers. Teddy reflects on an embroidery project needing three more flowers, including rock jasmine. She worries about failing Riley and about what comes after summer. She recalls a childhood fight with Emmy that Hank resolved by locking them in a truck. Teddy and Riley walk hand-in-hand through aspens, then run toward a herd of cattle near an old arena. Riley trips, but laughs it off. They spend over an hour scouring wildflowers and find yarrow. Riley talks about being the flower girl at Cam’s wedding. Walking home, Riley runs and lets out a joyful cackle that Teddy loves. Teddy realizes she will miss Riley, Gus, and the person she became with him. She is uncertain whether their relationship will revert to old patterns or blossom into something new.
Key Events
- Teddy leaves Gus’s house after a night together, borrowing a four-wheeler.
- She and Riley walk to the old horse arena, searching for wildflowers for her embroidery project.
- Teddy recalls a childhood conflict with Emmy and how Hank made them reconcile.
- Riley asks about the word “decadent” and Teddy explains without laughing.
- They run across a field, Riley trips, and both fall laughing.
- After an hour of searching, they find yarrow—one of the three missing flowers.
- Riley proudly describes her role as flower girl at her mother’s wedding.
- Teddy notes that Riley’s joyful cackle when running has become one of her favorite sounds.
- Teddy internally acknowledges that she will miss the slow mornings with Riley and late nights with Gus.
- The chapter ends with Teddy’s uncertainty about the future of her relationship with Gus.
Character Development
Teddy shows her nurturing side through her patient interactions with Riley. She values Riley’s curiosity and avoids mocking her questions. Teddy’s reflection on past fights with Emmy reveals her capacity for growth in handling conflict. Her internal monologue about missing Gus and her own transformation demonstrates emotional maturity and self-awareness. She is troubled by uncertainty but hopeful about what might bloom from the summer.
Riley remains a joyful, curious six-year-old. Her excitement for simple things—running, wildflowers, being a flower girl—highlights the innocent perspective that Teddy treasures.
Gus does not appear directly, but his presence lingers through Teddy’s thoughts. His earlier declaration (“I never want to let you go”) and the intimacy they shared show his deepening attachment.
Emmy is mentioned in Teddy’s memory, illustrating a long-standing friendship that has learned to navigate conflict.
Hank is remembered for his unconventional but effective method of forcing reconciliation between Teddy and Emmy.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Wildflowers and plant life symbolize the fragile, precious nature of relationships and personal growth. The search for rock jasmine—the flower that started Teddy’s project—parallels her search for clarity about her future with Gus. Finding yarrow represents small victories, but the absence of evening primrose and rock jasmine hints at unfinished emotional work.
Aspen trees serve as a motif for Teddy’s love of Rebel Blue and the transient beauty of light and sound. She describes walking through aspens as her favorite type of storm, linking nature with comfort and upheaval.
Transience and change are central: summer is ending, Teddy’s time with Riley and Gus is shifting, and she faces an unknown path. The repeated imagery of seeds, blooming, and withering underscores the theme of uncertainty in relationships.
Nurturing and care appear both in Teddy’s relationship with Riley (teaching, protecting, listening) and in Gus’s earlier insistence on taking care of Teddy. The chapter emphasizes the importance of being present and attentive.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter serves as a quiet pivot point in the novel. Teddy is forced to confront the approaching end of summer and the inevitable change in her relationships with Gus and Riley. Her internal conflict—whether to try to return to old expectations or to nurture the new bond—mirrors the larger romantic arc of the story. The natural setting and childlike joy of Riley contrast with Teddy’s adult anxieties, highlighting the bittersweet tension between holding on and letting go. This chapter also deepens Teddy’s character, showing her capacity for patience, reflection, and hope. It sets the stage for the climactic decisions that lie ahead.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Teddy worry about not finding rock jasmine, and what does this symbolize?
Teddy has been working on an embroidery project with Riley that requires three specific wildflowers. Rock jasmine is the flower that started the whole project, and according to her research it is common in the area, so failing to find it would feel like a personal failure. Symbolically, rock jasmine represents the emotional journey she and Gus have begun—a flowering that she fears may not fully bloom before summer ends.
2. What does Teddy’s childhood memory of a fight with Emmy reveal about her approach to conflict?
The anecdote shows that Teddy and Emmy have a history of disagreements but also a proven method of resolution—sometimes requiring external pressure (Hank locking them in a truck). Over time they have learned to give each other space when needed. This background suggests that Teddy is capable of facing difficult conversations, making her current avoidance of the topic with Gus all the more significant.
3. How does Teddy’s observation of Riley’s “banshee cackle” relate to her feelings about the summer?
Teddy notes that Riley’s joyful laugh when running has become one of her favorite sounds. This small detail underscores how much Teddy cherishes the everyday moments she has shared with Riley and Gus. The cackle symbolizes pure, unguarded happiness, which Teddy knows she will miss when the summer rhythm ends. It amplifies her sense of loss and uncertainty about what comes next.