God Help The Child

Bride takes a taxi to the pawn shop listed on Booker’s mail. Booker has left a pinky ring and a mouth piece from an instrument. While there, she discovers that Booker left a secondary address in Whiskey, a rural town in Northern California. The name listed on the address is “Q. Olive.”

Sofia receives word that her mother died. When Sofia was growing up, her parents were strict disciplinarians who punished Sofia for even minor infractions. Sofia married as soon as possible to escape their rule, but her husband turned out to be a controlling man. The iron discipline she learned in these relationships turned out to be key to her survival. The last time she lost control was the day she assaulted Bride. When she bathes her patients, Sofia imagines that she is taking care of and healing the young woman of her wounds, a welcome release.

Meanwhile, Bride drives north toward Whiskey, well aware that hurt rather than love is the motivation for her journey. Being with Booker had made her feel “safe, colonized somehow” (77). She had felt that way in her mother’s house despite the lack of touch and love. Bride remembers that Sweetness had slapped her when her first menstrual blood stained the bed sheets, but the blow and her mother’s rough touch as Sweetness pushed Bride in the tub had been almost welcome because Bride longed to be touched.