Touching Spirit Bear

Nervously, Cole tells the Circle that he was mad and didn’t understand that they were trying to help him. He says he knows he was wrong and that he can’t go back to the island. He hands the feather to his mom and notices that no one seems to believe him. Cole’s mom says that Cole has changed—he’s speaking openly now. Other Circle members say it’s time to send Cole’s case back to the courts, but Garvey insists that Cole has changed and should be allowed to change more. Peter’s lawyer, however, insists that everyone has suffered too much. She insists that Peter is doing poorly because of Cole, and nobody believes that a white bear attacked Cole. She concludes that this meeting is a waste of time.

Edwin asks Cole to help him with a demonstration. He points out a line in the linoleum floor and says it represents a bad life path. He and Cole walk along it together, pushing against each other. When they get to the other side of the room, Cole is only a few feet away from the line. Cole eyes Edwin as Edwin says that they’re going to now do the same exercise differently. Suddenly, Edwin shoves Cole and sends him sprawling. Cole fights his urge to shove Edwin—instead, he accepts Edwin’s hand to get up. Edwin addresses the group and says that people change either through persistent pressure or one traumatic experience. He says that Cole experienced something significant on the island—months ago, Cole would’ve hit him after a shove. Edwin concludes that Cole is facing a new direction.

The Keeper asks how they can be sure and mentions Cole’s claim that he saw a white bear. Edwin asks Cole if he saw a Spirit Bear. Cole realizes that if he lies, the Circle will believe him. If he tells the truth, they’ll think he’s a liar. Cole says he saw and touched the bear. Though she doesn’t have the feather, Peter’s lawyer insists they’re done. Edwin notes that a fishing crew recently sighted a white bear near Cole’s island, but Peter’s lawyer says this is irrelevant; Cole is out of chances. Cole can deal with not being in control right now, but he’s still angry. Edwin insists that if Cole goes back, he’ll pay his own way. Cole asks for the feather and says he knows he’s not over his anger, but he knows now that it takes strength to ask for help and tell the truth.

Over the next few weeks, Cole prepares himself mentally for jail. He starts working out and realizes that he can exercise his anger away. No matter how much he does, though, his right arm remains weak. The Circle continues meeting without Cole and Edwin stays in Minneapolis to attend them. Edwin stops by a few times but says little. Nathaniel Blackwood visits to say that Cole’s dad won’t pay his legal fees anymore. Then, two days later, Garvey and Edwin stop by. Edwin tells Cole to explain how he’s changed, and Cole shares how he felt unimportant after he was mauled. He realized that he’d die, that no one would ever trust him, and that he’d never love anyone.

Cole admits he’s not sure how this changes anything, but he knows now that his dad is never going to apologize. Edwin asks if Cole thinks this is his dad’s fault, but Cole says he knows it’s not. He shares what his mom said about his dad’s parents beating him too. Cole starts to cry and says that he just doesn’t want to beat his own kid. Cole says that he’s worse than his dad, since his dad never went to jail. Garvey asks why Cole thinks he can be different, and Cole replies that he’s not sure, but that he does know that something changed on the island. He sniffs and irritably asks Garvey and Edwin why they’re trying to help when he’s a lost cause and is going to jail. Garvey and Edwin reveal that they’ve convinced the Circle to let Cole go back to the island.