Wish

Trauma and grief in children can manifest itself in different ways. Some children withdraw inwardly and refuse to trust others, while others act out in more dramatic ways, exhibiting problematic behavior such as defiance, anger, and even violence. Charlie Reese struggles with both aspects as she processes her father’s incarceration, her mother’s depression, and her own displacement. Even though her home life was less than perfect and her parents were always fighting, losing her family has left a void in Charlie’s life, and she feels a profound sense of betrayal and abandonment for being sent away. As she states, “I felt like I’d been tossed out on the side of the road like a sack of unwanted kittens” (15). As she struggles to make sense of her situation, Charlie feels isolated and alone and is consumed by thoughts of her friends and family continuing life without her in Raleigh. Charlie pushes away Bertha’s attempts at connection, and when her classmates tease her, Charlie lashes out in anger in a futile attempt to regain some control of her life. Through Charlie’s character, Barbara O’Connor creates a realistic portrayal of one child’s experience in the foster care system, which despite its many flaws, can potentially be a hopeful option for children who are trapped in unsafe, unhealthy living situations. However, the system has its limitations, and no amount of compassionate care from a foster parent can completely erase the pain a child feels upon being taken from one home and forced to adjust to a completely new way of life overnight.

Charlie’s journey toward learning to trust others begins when she sees the stray dog and empathizes with its plight, saying, “I knew what it felt like to be a stray, not having a home where somebody wanted you” (33). Wishbone, like Charlie, has emotional wounds from his hardships, and he is slow to trust others. In the same way that Bertha and Gus slowly build trust with Charlie over time, Wishbone learns that Charlie is a safe place for him. Charlie slowly comes to believe that Gus and Bertha’s home is a safe place for her as well, and she releases her insistence that she must leave. Charlie bonds with Howard, whose family situation is the opposite of Charlie’s; however, Howard knows the feeling of abandonment, too. Refusing to look beyond his physical disability, Howard’s classmates abandoned him as an outcast and bully him mercilessly. Howard’s relentless positivity in the face of hardship teaches Charlie to face her fears and embrace vulnerability. By sharing their pain and bearing each other’s burdens, the two friends grow in their understanding of one another.

O’Connor also exemplifies the effects of Charlie’s shattered family through Jackie. Both Jackie and Charlie share memories of lying in bed and listening to their parents argue. Even though Jackie stays in Raleigh, she is not exempt from hardship. She visits her father in prison and deals with her mother’s insistence that she is turning her back on the family all while trying to remain connected to Charlie. When Charlie begs to return home with her, Jackie must deliver the sobering truth to her little sister that “Scrappy is gonna keep being Scrappy and Mama is gonna keep being Mama and you and I are on our own. No magic wand is gonna fix things” (178). Until now, Charlie has remained hopeful that their family will be repaired, but Jackie is old enough to know the truth. Through her novel, O’Connor shows that the effects of parental abandonment and neglect on children can be long-lasting. However, the supportive environments of a loving foster home, strong friendships, and the maintenance of close sibling attachments can help children heal and even thrive.