In this story by Elizabeth McCracken, well-meaning parents take their family on an extended Paris holiday to jolt their twelve-year-old daughter out of her rebellious behaviour. Initially, all goes well but one night the girl sneaks out to a party, falls from a window, and suffers permanent brain damage. After she regains consciousness, her optimistic father sees signs of an active mind emerging within her broken body. Unfortunately, her guilt-stricken mother is convinced that she is “not at home”. Themes include “teenage” rebellion, tragedy, hope vs. despair, guilt, acceptance, the transient nature of health and happiness.
The reactions of the mother (Laura) to her daughter’s condition bear discussion. As her initial anger subsides after returning to America, she becomes increasingly convinced that Helen will never recover. In a phone call to her husband she lets slip the thought that it would have been better if Helen had died… “I wish she had — I just don’t know what her life is going to be like.” This may be out of genuine concern for Helen’s future, but is also likely to be influenced by self-blame for failing her as a mother and the burden that caring for her will place on the family. Fortunately, she has an epiphany when visiting Helen on her return to Paris,. Although still of the opinion that the poor girl will never recover, motherly instinct takes over and she is able to “shift the weight (of guilt and caring for her) from her chest”.