Touching Spirit Bear: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

A strange man announces that they can’t get a plane out to take Cole to Ketchikan until morning due to the weather. Edwin introduces the Tlingit nurse as Rosey, the best and only nurse in Drake. When Cole shivers, Garvey passes Rosey the at.óow. Rosey rejects it because it’s wet, but Cole grabs at it. He then grabs Garvey’s arm. Garvey assures Cole that he’s not leaving and says they can talk later. Rosey gives Cole medication and an IV while Garvey spoons broth into Cole’s mouth. Cole watches Rosey work on him as though there’s nothing else she’d rather do.

Garvey remarks that the bear did a lot of damage and apologizes to Cole, but Cole whispers that it was his fault. Garvey and Edwin exchange a glance, and then Cole closes his eyes. Rosey returns with bandages to clean up Cole’s open wounds, marveling that Cole is able to talk given the severity of his injuries. She suggests that he’s tough, but Garvey whispers that Cole isn’t as tough as he thinks he is. Edwin murmurs that Cole will be okay if he can find a reason to live. Cole falls sleeps and dreams that everyone in his life steps forward to help him in some way. Cole likes using people in this way—but suddenly, lightning strikes and everyone turns into a monster. They shout at Cole and tell him that he’s nothing.

Cole wakes and reaches out, calling hoarsely for Garvey. Garvey turns on the light, and Rosey rushes in. Cole tells them about his dream, and both Rosey and Garvey assure Cole that they’re not monsters. Cole asks why they’re helping him, and Rosey shrugs that it’s not worth living if she can’t help. Garvey insists that they’re friends, but Cole frustratedly says that this isn’t true. Garvey admits he helped Cole for his own reasons. When Cole starts to accuse Garvey of not caring about him, Garvey interrupts and points out that he helped Cole to help himself. He explains that he spent five years in prison since there was no one to take him through Circle Justice. Rosey tells Cole that his body will heal, but he can only heal his spirit by helping others.

When Cole insists that people want to hurt him, Rosey assures Cole that those people need his help. She gives Cole another shot for the pain, but says she can’t give him anything to “take away the monsters”—only Cole can make them go away. When Cole wakes up in the morning, Rosey gives him another painkiller and brings a bag of Cole’s clothes with the at.óow on the top. Edwin arrives with two boys Cole’s age to help carry Cole to a van, which takes him to the marina. When Rosey leaves to fetch something, Edwin asks Cole what happened. Cole hesitantly tells Edwin and Garvey everything. Garvey points out that Cole might never use his arm again, but Cole insists that it isn’t important—a parole officer once told him that if he likes the cake, the ingredients in it might be okay.

Garvey incredulously says that he also let a bear maul Cole, and now, Cole still has to deal with his parents and jail time. Cole says that whatever happens, he’s done being angry, but Edwin insists that anger doesn’t disappear—it just lessens. He asks about the Spirit Bear. Cole says that the last time it came, it stood over him and let him touch it. Edwin insists that his family has been here for generations and has never seen a Spirit Bear—the animal might only exist in Cole’s mind.

Cole starts to argue and reaches for his pants to pull out the hair, but then realizes that he’s never been strong enough to just tell the truth. He insists he’s telling the truth. Edwin and Garvey step away and once he’s alone, Cole pulls the white fur out of his pants pocket. Cole vows to himself that starting today, he’ll tell the truth. He tosses the fur in the water but knows he’ll never forget the Spirit Bear.