The War That Saved My Life

Ada receives an invitation to tea from Stephen White and the Colonel, but she declines. She uses her foot as an excuse for not wanting to go to tea: “I don’t need the Colonel staring at my foot” (138). Susan points out that Ada’s excuse is moot because the Colonel is blind and can’t see her twisted foot anyway, but she doesn’t press Ada to attend.

On the day of the tea, Ada regrets her refusal and asks to go. Susan insists that it’s rude to change a response once it’s been sent. Ada reacts by smashing one of Jamie’s paper planes with her crutch in anger, prompting Susan to demand that Ada apologize to Jamie. Ada refuses to apologize, so Susan comforts Jamie and cuddles him. Susan also invites Ada to sit next to her, placing her arm around Ada and pulling her close. Ada is uncomfortable at the physical intimacy of Susan holding and comforting her, but she resists going away inside her head.

Ada still can’t get Butter to move faster than a walk, so she visits Grimes to ask for advice. Grimes recognizes the issue immediately: Butter’s feet haven’t been trimmed in years. Grimes tends to Butter’s feet, trimming back and grooming his hooves.