Peter doesn't want Cole touching his Spirit Bear

[kippurbird]

I apologize for not touching your Spirit Bears last night, but I was having an Emo moment. I shall spare you my dark emo poetry about my dark emo soul.

When we last got in touch with our Spirit Bears, Peter in a moment of clarity and logic said that he didn't want to touch Cole's spir... I mean want Cole to help him heal.

Cole makes everyone his favorite meal, telling them how Garvey told him how life was a hot dog. This is not something I'd be repeating in public. He makes them a feast out of spaghetti and hot dogs, it's a feast because they make it a feast. He spread the Blanket that Should Have Burned out as a table cloth and tells them what it means.

Then they eat! Except Peter. Peter does not want to sleep with Cole. I mean sleep in the same room as Cole. Magnanimously Cole tells Peter that he doesn't have to sleep in the cabin if he doesn't want to. It sounds like Peter could sleep somewhere else. Edwin however says that he brought a tent for Cole to sleep in. Still Peter doesn't eat. I don't blame him, I would think the food was poisoned too.

The next morning Cole hiked alone to the pond. He soaked as long as he could, his calmness shaken by how terrified Peter was of him. How could he have once wanted someone to feel that way? No matter how deeply he breathed, soaking failed to take away his troubled thoughts.

Well, this is an about face. He's gone from Kill! to Peacenick. Still, if you notice, this is still about him. How could he once want to hurt someone? Not, Peter was scared of him, how could he help him stop being afraid or help him get better.

When Cole gets back to the cabin, he hears Peter pleading not to be left there. Apparently his parents agreed to this because they think that Peter needs to face Cole and get over his fear. If this is really what they wanted, then they should have brought Cole to Peter, and let him face Cole on his own familiar turf as opposed to somewhere unfamiliar and alone. Yes, Garvey is going to be there, but I doubt Peter knows Garvey from a hole in the ground. As Peter's father says, "We would have never forced him to come up here like this if we thought there was any other choice. After his second suicide attempt, Garvey convinced us that Peter needs to face you or be haunted by his memories for the rest of his life."

Yes. You read that right. Personally, I think my idea is better. But then again, it's the Island that's going to heal Peter and not Cole. This Island is starting to sound like the Island on Lost. It too has mysterious healing powers and white bears. I guess that would make Cole an Other?

Cole tries to make nice with Peter by giving him a candy bar. Peter tells him to go to Hell. Cole goes back to his cabin and does his homework while talking to Garvey. Apparently Cole's father is suing to get custody of Cole. Cole talks about how he used to be like his father. Perhaps his father will come to the island and touch Cole's Spirit Bear. >.> What?

In any case the next morning Cole goes to soak in the pond, bringing Garvey and Peter with him. Garvey explains the ancestor rock to Peter and they watch Cole carry it up the hill. Cole explains how he imagines the rock being his angry and blah blah.

Time passes. Peter is the same. Then one day Peter pushes the rock down the hill suddenly. And then a few days later Peter throws a rock at Cole. And then when they're walking to the pond Peter pushes Cole into the stream after he does that, he goes into the pond and then back out again. When they return Peter asks Cole if he gets frozen in the water. Cole says you get used to it. Peter says he doesn't want to get used to it.

More time passes, Cole still sleeps out in the cold and the rain. Peter not talking to Cole. Garvey joking with both boys. Then one day. One horrible, horrible rainy day, Peter asks Cole if he wants to join him in the cabin.

Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Comments

[the-norseman.livejournal.com]

Okay now everything in this book is wrong (I won't say a lie but...

The Tlingit rituals aren't anything like this. Tribal banishment about someone being forced to be completely isolated, and consider what they've done. Not whatever it is Cole is getting.

Sure Ancient Teachings can sometimes cure head cases: Sometimes because Ancient Teachings is old stuff that got passed on because it works; in other cases because the head case believes in it

The problem is that this is just made up New Agey stuff, it has neither "this may seem silly but it works"; OR "this may seem silly but I believe in it" going for it. It's just "this is silly".

Cole is a typical bully: Exaggerated self-esteem bordering on narcissism. He's not afraid.

So the book lies about the cure he's supposed to get, but it also lies about the disease. It doesn't show Cole suffering from the things it says he's afflicted with. On the contrary it shows him as a typical angry bully with excessive self-esteem.

By all evidence Cole is still a Narcissist even after he's supposed to be healed.

In short being away in the wilderness has given him fewer things to be angry about. There's not so much stimulation, and he's got some genuine accomplishments to feel good about. So he's able to behave himself more in the wilderness...

Unfortunately the underlying problem is still untreated...

So when Peter comes over Cole will of course expect the treatment to work fine on him, and for Peter to realise how much he, Cole, has changed. In the real world the treatment wouldn't work, and Peter wouldn't come to trust Cole, or like him.

In the real world that would make Cole very angry, since the underlying problem isn't treated. Peter is just being difficult, he's being obstinate, the bastard!

Can you guess what the likely outcome would be in the real world?

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

You're using logic again. Stop it.

[yattara.livejournal.com]

Frankly, hate-sex would be an improvement by about now.

If I were peter, I'd be suing to be emancipated from my parents the moment I'm back on the mainland. This is clearly abandonment.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

*points down to the norseman's comment*

No it's not. It's his parents last resort in trying to heal their injured child. They care for him so much that they're willing to leave him there in the middle of...

You're right, they did abandon him. With a guy who's life philosophy is hot dogs and a nut case.

[thelittlebudgie.livejournal.com]

"After his second suicide attempt, Garvey convinced us that Peter needs to face you or be haunted by his memories for the rest of his life."

Doesn't this read like Garvey was so sad that Peter wouldn't come that he tried to commit suicide? Twice? Poor Garvey. He needs someone to touch his spirit bear.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

You know what... it does. *laughs*

Garvey now has Peter and Cole to help him touch his spirit bear.

[karma-kalisutah.livejournal.com]

Peter has obviously decided that this is a kill-or-be-killed situation, and the seemingly imminent threat of violent death has revived his will to live. He will now throttle Cole in his sleep.

Maybe this little turn of events will be therapeutic after all. For all of us.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

For a little while. It looks like now Peter is the one with the anger problems and he has to go through the same healing cycle that Cole did, this time under Cole's guidance, much like Garvey and Edwin guided him.

A thirteen year old's review of Spirit Bear

[zoe-i-am.livejournal.com]

My daughter, Brina, says that she didn't really like the book. She had to do background work on the author, and supposedly this is based on his real life experiences in a cabin on a Northwest Island, where a white "spirit" bear lived and accepted him. Personally, I think he was on the island WAY too long.

She also couldn't figure out why the bear mauled him and then didn't eat him. Everytime it showed up again, she was thinking Cole would be lunch. When I asked her if she'd read it again, she said no. She said it was completely unrealistic and she didn't understand what they were gettting at half the time.

I still hate this book.

Re: A thirteen year old's review of Spirit Bear

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Your daughter is a wise individual. May she be a blessing to you through out your lives.

In other words, I agree with her. And you.

Re: A thirteen year old's review of Spirit Bear

[zoe-i-am.livejournal.com]

Amen!

[the-norseman.livejournal.com]

I just have to write this... I just have to...

Forgive me!

It was cold outside, and the wind drove the pouring rain. Peering out of the window Peter realised how thoroughly miserable it was outside. He could see Cole outside, chopping down a big tree, swinging the axe with strong, powerful motions. The rain and the sweat made the plaid shirt stick to Cole's body.

Slowly Peter opened the door, he stood there for a while, silhouetted against the light from the cabin. He could hear every strike of the axe against the tree, twock, twock.

"Cole, you look so cold, come inside."

The tree began to creak, and it fell slowly, landing on the ground with a crash. Cole put the axe down and turned around, "It's alright, chopping wood keeps me warm."

"No I mean it... come inside, I'll fix you something," Peter said.

They went inside, and the door slammed shut behind them. It was as if the outside world didn't exist, aside from the drum of the rain on the roof. The crackling fire in the hearth overpowered the sound of the wind.

"Your shirt is wet, lets place it by the fireside to dry it," Peter said.

"It's not that wet, it'll dry on my skin," Cole said, even as small drops fell onto the floor.

"Yes it is. You'll get the floor wet." Peter said, as he began to help Cole unbutton his shirt.

"Hey relax," Cole said, laughing, "You're really worried about getting the floor wet aren't you?" He pulled off his shirt, and handed it to Peter.

For a moment Peter stood there, holding the wet shirt, water dripping onto the floor, his eyes studying Cole's firm belly and muscular chest. "Ah... you've gotten into shape."

"I suppose I have, building houses, chopping wood, lots of hard work," Cole said, he looked around the cabin, "Mind if I borrow your towel?"

"Go right ahead," Peter said. He pulled his eyes away from Cole, and hung the shirt up on a chair next to the hearth.

Cole rubbed himself vigorously with the towel. When he was done he took a deep breath, "Smells good, what are you making?"

Peter smiled, "My favourite dish."

"And what's that?"

"Sausages and meatballs."

Soon Peter served up the dinner, but unfortunately they didn't have any forks, so they had to eat it with their fingers.

Cole reached out and grabbed his sausage, only to let out a yelp as he let it fall back to the platter.

"Too hot?" Peter asked.

"Yes."

"Try some of my meatballs." Peter said.

Cole did so, but after a bite he had to suck in some air, "hot!"

"I like my balls warm."

They ate for a while, talking about this and that. A bit awkward at first, the situation was difficult for the both of them. Outside the wind howled even louder, and a couple of drops fell from the ceiling.

"I think it's cool now," Peter said, he leaned forward and squeezed Cole's sausage, "Yes you can eat it now."

Cole grabbed the sausage and nearly swallowed it whole, only stopping for a few moments to swallow the big chunks of meat. They felt warm as they went down his bullet, into his belly.

"So I hear about your spirit bear, have you touched it?" Peter asked.

"It's not really my spirit bear, it doesn't belong to anyone, or maybe to everyone," Cole waxed philosophically.

"So in a way you'd be touching my spirit bear? Or each others spirit bear?" Peter asked.

"Yes, I suppose so, but we have to be careful, touching spirit bears is serious business," Cole said.

"How do you do it? Aren't wild animals dangerous?" Peter asked.

Cole nodded sagely, "Yes, you must empty your mind completely. When you go to it your mind must be utterly void of thought."

"That sounds peculiar," Peter said.

"Don't worry, soon you'll be like me: carrying ancestor rocks on top of hills, and rolling them down the hill, like a Tlingit Sisyphus! Utterly devoid of thought, and touching the spirit bear!" Cole said, then he fell silent again as he kept gnawing on Peter's meatballs.

Humdidum...

Looks very innocent, twiddles thumbs, whistles.

Couldn't help myself. I'm not even sure if I catch some of the meaning in the books but... there you are then...

[thelittlebudgie.livejournal.com]

*dies laughing*

[zoe-i-am.livejournal.com]

Cole reached out and grabbed his sausage, only to let out a yelp as he let it fall back to the platter.

Brilliant!

[b2wm.livejournal.com]

This Island is starting to sound like the Island on Lost. It too has mysterious healing powers and white bears. I guess that would make Cole an Other?

I haven't seen Lost, but now that you've brought up... Cole is a brainwashed clone. Totally.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Lost is lovely. If you like really complicated things and weirdness and why the hell did they do that I can't believe they did that sort of things.

I saw that movie. I do agree.

[christinaathena.livejournal.com]

I apologize for not touching your Spirit Bears last night Baby, you can touch my Spirit Bear anytime.

The sad thign about this book is, I can't even say it's losing credibility, because it did that ages ago. Now the writer just seems to be stumbling along.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah baby.

You think it's been bad now? Wait until you see the ending.