My Sister’s Keeper: 11. Wednesday: Julia Summary & Analysis

Julia has just let her sister Isobel move in and is exasperated by her presence. Isobel, or Izzy, has taken to organizing Julia’s fridge and criticizing Julia’s penchant for naming her kitchen appliances. Julia, frustrated, tells Izzy that she can see why her girlfriend Janet broke up with her, causing Izzy to run off in tears. Julia states that, although Izzy is three minutes older, she is Izzy’s “nuclear bomb” in that she destroys anything that upsets Izzy. Ironically, growing up, Julia was troublemaker and Izzy was the good daughter; now, though, Julia holds a boring 9-5 job while Izzy dates women and makes jewelry. Julia goes into the bathroom to apologize. Izzy quickly accepts and asks Julia what the toilet’s name is. Julia says she was thinking of “Janet.”

Julia gets a call from Judge DeSalvo, who asks her if she’s available to act as a guardian ad litem. Julia became a GAL a year ago after leaving nonprofit work, and she feels gratitude to Judge DeSalvo for helping her break into the field. Judge DeSalvo gives Julia the background information, emphasizing that it’s an urgent matter. Julia is struck and upset by the name of Anna’s attorney, but she agrees to go see Anna in an hour. On her way out, Julia tells Izzy that there’s “a girl who needs help”—in this, she is referring to herself.

When Julia arrives at the Fitzgerald house, she initially thinks that nobody is home since no one answers the doorbell. She’s also impressed by how well-kept the house is despite the family being in crisis. When she turns around, she runs into Anna, who is initially extremely suspicious and asks for proof of Julia’s identity when she claims to be a guardian ad litem. Julia notes that, if Anna is putting this much thought into talking to Julia, she’s likely put a great deal of thought into suing her family. Anna, handing back Julia’s papers, asks where her family is, expressing concern for Kate. She agrees to go with Julia to talk.

Anna and Julia go to the zoo, the place where Julia commonly takes her clients to talk. However, Anna is older than most of her clients, and she soon realizes that the girl is not especially entertained. The two of them make clipped conversation for a while. Julia learns that Anna used to play hockey but gave it up when Kate’s treatments interfered with her attendance at games. Anna also says that she doesn’t have friends since other kids are uncomfortable around her; instead, if she needs to talk to someone, she goes to Kate.

Anna asks to borrow Julia’s cell phone and uses it to call the hospital in order to see if Kate’s been admitted. Although Kate hasn’t been registered, Anna explains to Julia that this doesn’t necessarily mean that she hasn’t been admitted—just that the operator might not have the paperwork yet. Julia points out that Anna seems very concerned about her sister and asks her if she’s prepared for the consequences of refusing to donate her kidney. Anna responds that while she knows full well what will happen, that doesn’t mean she’ll like it. Julia thinks about what she would do if Izzy needed one of her organs and knows that she would immediately donate it—but she also knows that, in that case, it would be her choice.

Julia asks Anna if her parents ever asked if she wanted to be a donor for her sister. Anna responds that they did, but with the assumption that the answer was already “yes.” Julia also asks if Anna ever expressed discomfort with their choices. Anna says yes, but that they’re Kate’s parents, too. Julia considers how Sara and Brian may have become blinded by their care for Kate, but she wonders if Anna actually cares about medical emancipation or if she just wants her parents to hear her. Together, the two of them look at the polar bears. Anna is happy to see that one of the bears has been able to keep her cub, since the last one was sent away. She asks Julia if she thinks the other cub ever wonders what it did to be sent away. Then, she asks to go home.

When the two reach the Fitzgerald house, Anna asks Julia to walk her in; she’s afraid of Sara’s anger since she left today without telling anyone where she was going. Julia asks if she does this a lot, but Anna says she usually does what she’s told. When they enter, Sara is indeed furious, but Julia quickly intervenes in an attempt to sit down and talk with her. Sara stiffly declines, explaining that Kate’s just been readmitted to the hospital. She tells Julia that the whole thing is a misunderstanding and that Judge DeSalvo will be saying the same thing soon. Julia, seeing Anna’s reluctance to speak up, realizes how easy it is for Anna to be influenced by Sara since they live together. She tells Anna she’ll call tomorrow and leaves.

Julia goes to Campbell’s law firm and barges past Kerri into his office. He doesn’t look up at first, thinking that she’s Kerri, then freezes when he realizes it’s Julia. Julia explains that she’s Anna’s guardian ad litem. Campbell says that he’d expected to run into her by now and smiles, which reignites Julia’s feelings for him, which she developed when she was 17. She coldly tells him that it’s easy to avoid someone when you want to: he should know.