Chapter 3: Prologue: We Were Eight – 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

The prologue opens as eight-year-old Frankie wakes on the morning her mother vanishes. The previous night Frankie fell asleep wishing for something extraordinary. A heavy spring rain melts the last snow, and Frankie and her older brothers Darwin (twelve) and Moby (ten) notice their mother’s station wagon missing. Their father explains vaguely that their mother has “gone home” and will return, but only Darwin seems to grasp the weight of the departure.

Sent outside to play, Frankie’s brothers exclude her from their basketball game. Frustrated, she grabs a butterfly net and pursues a brown rabbit into the thicket bordering the neighboring property—a large stone house rumored to belong to a witch. She squeezes through a gap in the cedar hedge and meets a pale boy her age, George Saint James, who claims the “witch” is his grandmother. Frankie challenges him to prove the house is not magical by letting her inside. George reluctantly agrees and leads her into the Big House, an act that changes both their lives.

Key Events

Frankie’s mother leaves the family without warning.
Frankie’s brothers ignore her, and she wanders off alone.
She discovers a rabbit and follows it to the neighbor’s hedge.
Frankie meets George Saint James for the first time.
She learns the witch is actually George’s grandmother.
George invites her into the Big House, beginning their friendship.

Character Development

Frankie (Francesca) : At eight, Frankie is impulsive, curious, and convinced she is destined for adventure. Her mother’s disappearance leaves a void she tries to fill with excitement. Meeting George satisfies her craving for something extraordinary and reveals her protective instincts—she wants to rescue him from the “witch.”
George Saint James : George appears shy, soft, and resigned to his new home. He blushes easily and lacks Frankie’s boldness, but he responds to her challenge with a burst of humor and courage. His loneliness is apparent; Frankie’s offer of friendship is a lifeline.
Darwin and Moby : Frankie’s older brothers are dismissive of her. Darwin shows responsibility by ensuring she wears boots and a coat, while Moby simply follows Darwin. Neither shares the truth about their mother with her.
Frankie’s father : He provides minimal explanation, focusing on his coffee rather than his children’s distress. His detachment underscores the family’s emotional fragmentation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Search for Adventure : Frankie’s wish for something extraordinary leads her directly to George. The prologue frames adventure as a necessary escape from domestic pain. The rabbit she chases symbolizes the elusive prize of excitement.
Judgment vs. Reality : Frankie assumes the neighbor is a witch based on local gossip and appearances—overgrown gardens, black clothing, a bubbling pot. Meeting George forces her to question these labels, though she still seeks magic.
Abandonment and Resilience : The mother’s sudden departure creates a gap Frankie tries to fill by seeking novelty. Her determination to “rescue” George channels her own need for security into a project.
Secrets and the Unknown : The Big House holds mysteries (the black cat Baryshnikov, a potentially normal interior). Frankie’s curiosity about the house mirrors her unspoken questions about her mother’s disappearance.

Why This Chapter Matters

This prologue establishes the foundational relationship between Frankie and George, showing attraction that begins in childhood need and curiosity. It also foreshadows the theme of unreliable adults and the children left to navigate their own worlds. The chapter’s title, “We Were Eight,” marks the moment their lives become intertwined, and its position as chapter three suggests the narrative will revisit this origin point after earlier chapters have set up the adult story. The mother’s absence is a wound that will likely echo throughout the novel.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Frankie’s characterization in the prologue prepare readers for her role in the rest of the story?
Frankie is presented as headstrong, imaginative, and desperate for adventure. These traits make her the catalyst for the friendship with George and suggest she will continue to seek agency in her own life, especially as her mother’s disappearance remains unresolved.

2. What does the rabbit symbolize in Frankie’s pursuit, and why does she abandon it?
The rabbit represents the elusive adventure Frankie craves. She abandons the chase when she finds George, a real and more significant discovery. The rabbit’s escape signifies that some desires must be released to find deeper connections.

3. How does George’s reaction to Frankie’s “witch” accusation reveal his character?
George blushes but does not run away; he defends his grandmother and offers to prove the house is normal. His willingness to show Frankie inside, despite his initial shyness, indicates his loneliness and his recognition of Frankie as a potential friend.