Spilled Milk: Based on a True Story

Brooke’s mother Molly is one of the abusers in her life. Molly injures her back at work when Brooke is young, and is unable to function well. She becomes addicted to painkillers and gives up on being a mother, spending her days in anger or indifference towards her children. Like her husband David (later referred to as Earl), Molly shows no empathy toward her children when they are hurt or scared. When her son Thomas has his bike stolen under threat of a knife, Molly yells at him in front of a police officer and says the incident will teach him a lesson. She reacts similarly when she pushes Brooke to sell drugs for her; when Brooke is held up with a gun, Molly only thinks of the lost money. In the face of Molly’s negligence, Brooke takes on the role of mother for her siblings, showcasing The Unfettered Loyalty that Children Feel Toward Their Families. When Molly nearly dies giving birth to Ethan, she refuses to take care of him, and Brooke becomes the person to name him.

Brooke describes her mother as someone who refuses to listen to anything she doesn’t understand, and this is what she believes led to Molly’s ignoring of David’s abuse (as per the theme of Secrets and Denial). Compounding Molly’s ignorance is her disability and financial dependence on David, which she reveals in a dark moment of truth: “Now I know why women don’t tell on their husbands, how are they supposed to survive?” (240). When Earl is sent to prison, Molly is angry that her source of income is gone, rather than being relieved that her children are safer. While Brooke enables her mother by sending her money after she moves out and continuing to parent her siblings, the failure to protect the children ultimately lies with Molly—and as of Molly’s confession, Brooke sees their relationship as irreparable.

Brooke’s father David is one of the abusers in her life, the source of the sexual, physical, emotional, and economic abuse that the family endures for years. David (later referred to as Earl) lashes out at his children and is manipulative, gaslighting Brooke into believing nothing happened after sexually assaulting her. He pushes her to keep his abuse a secret and maintains control of the family’s money and food. He starts his abuse by touching Brooke inappropriately, and slowly escalates into sexual assault. On several occasions, he even goes so far as to drug and assault her in her sleep. When David is charged and renamed “Earl” by Brooke and ally Gina (after the Dixie Chicks song “Goodbye Earl,” which details an abuser getting his comeuppance), Earl pleads not guilty, and when this approach falls through, he attempts to downplay his abuse. While receiving his sentence, he stares at the judge blankly, showing no emotion whatsoever; he shows no remorse, and Brooke’s counselor Midge warns her to never expect that from him.

Jason is Brooke’s boyfriend-turned-husband, the person whom she comes to depend on the most. He is introduced as a country boy who drives an old pickup truck and is initially too shy to speak to Brooke when he sees her. Brooke’s friend Cristin attempts to make Brooke and Jason a couple, but they instead meet on their own and quickly fall in love. Jason comes from a working-class family and knows what it means to struggle, and offers Brooke patience and understanding. It takes Brooke a long time to finally tell Jason the extent of her abuse, but never once does he pressure her. Unlike Brooke’s ex-boyfriend Paul, Jason knows her past doesn’t define her. Jason is dedicated to Brooke, accompanying her out of state to college and back, seeing her through her court proceedings, and supporting her during panic attacks and other emotional episodes.

Gina is Paul’s mother and becomes a maternal figure to Brooke in the face of Molly’s negligence. She first meets Brooke when Brooke starts dating her son, and Gina is quick to notice that something is not right with Brooke’s home life. On the night of the spilled milk incident, Gina watches as Brooke reacts in fear to a simple mistake. She then decides to offer herself as a source of empathy, in the hopes that Brooke will open up to her about her abuse. Gina also receives her own sense of fulfillment from her relationship with Brooke, as she always wanted a daughter. She is the first person to teach Brooke about domestic violence and takes her to the Women in Crisis center where Brooke meets counselor Midge. She makes several calls to social services, helps Brooke create a police report, and remains by her during the court process (whereas Paul long abandoned Brooke). Although Heather is Brooke’s official victim advocate, Gina is Brooke’s life advocate: She loves Brooke, steers her in the right direction, and provides the support that Brooke needs to exhibit Resilience in the Face of Trauma.

Midge is a counselor who works at a Women in Crisis clinic and supports Brooke as she learns about domestic and sexual abuse, and develops the confidence to advocate for herself. She is honest and warm, but also blunt. When Brooke asks questions about abuse, Midge doesn’t shame her for not knowing the answers; instead, she educates Brooke using a visual aid, teaching her about the various types of abuse and how to identify them, and listening to Brooke talk about her home life and school problems. She had her own experience of sexual abuse, which she shares with Brooke at their last meeting. Her abuser was her brother, and he was released from jail shortly after being arrested. Midge sees in Brooke the possibility of a success story, and when Brooke wonders how she can repay her, Midge instead expresses her own gratitude: “The day I walked into her office and told her I had final told a family member about the abuse was payment enough” (208).

Brooke has four siblings: Adam, Thomas, Kat, and Ethan. Adam is Brooke’s older brother, while Thomas, Kat, and Ethan are younger (with Ethan being born during the story). Adam is the first of Brooke’s siblings introduced, and his near-drowning is the first secret that Brooke must keep as per her father David’s request (as per the theme of Secrets and Denial). He is a frequent victim of David’s physical abuse, as David often takes out his anger on his sons. As Adam grows up, he becomes increasingly distant and jaded, and blames Brooke for her abuse (as their father’s case was publicized and “embarrassed” Adam)—even going so far as to resent her for sending David to jail. Thomas experiences several instances of abuse, including being blamed for having his bike stolen and being sexually assaulted by his father when he accidentally walks in on David assaulting Brooke. He struggles to heal, experiencing several arrests and failing to finish high school. Like siblings Adam and Kat (the latter of whom Brooke managed to protect from their father’s molestation), Thomas struggles to admit to his own abuse, but writes a letter to Brooke from jail, thanking her for everything she did for the family: “I miss you extremely and hope someday I show you how grateful I am for what you did for me and our family. I don’t know where I’d be without you Brooke” (336). Kat seems to follow in Brooke’s footsteps after a long period of turmoil, and Ethan remains a small child when Brooke leaves home (the latter of whom Brooke managed to protect from their father’s physical abuse, with one such incident pushing her to call social services). Brooke’s siblings fuel her survival, as her desire to protect them keeps her going for years.

Paul is Gina’s son and Brooke’s first boyfriend, and they date throughout their high school years. Brooke turns Paul down at first, but he’s persistent and she eventually agrees to date. She soon falls in love with him, their love taking years for her to forget. Paul is not necessarily a malicious person, but is immature and lacks the ability to navigate his relationship with Brooke in a respectful manner. He often lashes out at her, blames her, and breaks up with her on a whim. He also pressures Brooke into sex, and when she finally gives in, he suspects she isn’t a virgin and is disappointed. When Brooke finally opens up about her father’s abuse and visits Gina in tears, Paul fakes empathy in order to coax her into sex again. Brooke denies him, but still finds herself missing him long after they break up.

When Paul discovers the full extent of Brooke’s abuse, he calls her disgusting and implies she consented to the abuse. It is not until years later that Paul finally apologizes over text, and Brooke is able to let go of him once and for all. As Brooke struggles to let Paul go and focus on her current boyfriend Jason, Midge mentions how Paul’s insensitivity compounded David’s harm. Yet, Paul is instrumental in helping Brooke realize that her home life is abusive, as his family exhibits calm understanding during the spilled milk incident; his sudden phone call also interrupts her suicide attempt. Paul also introduces Brooke to his mother Gina, and although he becomes irritated by their closeness, Brooke would have never found her first ally if not for Paul.

Aunt Jean and Uncle Bruce are two members of Brooke’s extended family who support Brooke’s family when they become aware of David’s abuse. The couple live in Long Island but keep in touch with Molly, who informs them about social services’ letter regarding potential sexual abuse in the home. They talk to Brooke in person, and Uncle Bruce assures Brooke that she is safe with them. When Uncle Bruce hears about the abuse in detail, he punches a hole in the wall, and Brooke can sense his self-blame for not noticing sooner; Aunt Jean breaks down. Brooke comments on this ripple effect later on, noting how many people around her feel responsible for failing to notice David’s abuse, but she insists none of them are at fault. Aunt Jean and Uncle Bruce take the family in while they await Earl’s trial and stay by Brooke’s side as the case proceeds.

Cristin and Judd are Brooke’s best friends. She meets them when her family moves to Pennsylvania, and they quickly develop a close bond. Cristin and Judd are both teenagers who, like Brooke, are unaware of the signs of abuse. On one occasion, Judd remarks on how thin Brooke is becoming, but thinks little of it. Still, both friends are fiercely loyal: Cristin stays with Brooke through much of her recovery after her appendix surgery, and Judd helps Brooke sell drugs for Molly. Both friends watch out for Brooke, texting her when she and her family suddenly disappear (while hiding from Earl and awaiting his trial). They also share a lighthearted approach to life, often teasing Brooke and taking her to parties when she is having a difficult time.