Surviving the Applewhites

Jake takes satisfaction in annoying E.D. with his behavior, a skill he picked up from his parents. He believes that if the rest of the Applewhites are similar to E.D., he can quickly get on their nerves and drive them away. He is determined to show the Applewhites he won’t be forced into anything he doesn’t want; he resents adults making decisions for him and wants to have agency over his own life. He sizes up E.D., dismissing her appearance as unremarkable with her short hair and lack of curves. As he looks around the property, he deems it “quaint and rustic and weird” (13) and wonders what the other Applewhite children will be like.

Suddenly, a goat bolts past them, chased by a tall, barefoot girl in a black leotard with long auburn hair. Jake is taken aback by her beauty as they vanish into the distance. E.D. identifies the girl as Cordelia, her sister, and introduces the goat as Wolfie. Jake’s grandfather and the Applewhites come out of the house, scolding Jake for smoking. Jake identifies the Applewhite family members—Randolph, the father; Sybil Jameson, the mother; Lucille, the aunt; Archie, Lucille’s husband and Randolph’s brother; and Zedediah, the grandfather. He remembers that Zedediah and Archie make furniture, Sybil is a writer, Lucille is a poet, and Randolph is a theatre director. Everyone but Zedediah disperses in search of the goats and Destiny, the youngest Applewhite. Zedediah shakes Jake’s hand and welcomes him to Wit’s End, which he describes as a “Furniture Factory, Gallery, Studio, Goat Compound, and Creative Academy” (18). Jake’s response is to swear, but Zedediah is unfazed.

The next morning, E.D. sits in the kitchen quietly eating breakfast, reflecting on her differences from her family. She looks at the dying flower arrangement on the table, crafted by Cordelia, and acknowledges that she feels out of place: The “Applewhites [are] enormously talented. She [is] not. Applewhites [thrive] on chaos. E.D. [wants] organization and sense” (18). Today Jake Semple is moving in, a prospect that fills E.D. with dread. The previous day, after the goats had been rounded up and Destiny found, there had been a family reunion to outline the plan for Jake’s assimilation. Everyone participated except Hal, E.D.’s older brother, an artist so introverted he’s almost a recluse and never leaves his room. E.D. reflects on how the Creative Academy had been established because her father, Randolph, strongly believes that the Applewhites are not like the other people. He values creativity and individuality over conformity, prompting him to withdraw his children from Traybridge school. E.D., however, longs for her former school and the company of her best friend, Melissa.

At the Creative Academy, the Applewhite adults serve as teachers, and the children are encouraged to follow their interests and create their own educational plans. At the family reunion, however, the adults decided that Jake is to follow E.D.’s plan. Despite E.D.’s objections, where she emphasized the importance of individuality, the family remained steadfast in their decision, claiming that Jake needed “cooperative learning” (22). E.D.’s plan is heavily focused on math, a subject she really enjoys. She fears that Jake’s presence may disrupt the structured order she has established, throwing her carefully curated routine into chaos.

Henry Dungan pulls up to Wit’s End to drop off Jack. Feeling a sense of rejection from his grandfather, Jake wears a black t-shirt with a spiked leather collar, hoping to exude an intimidating aura. He is welcomed by Lucille, who smiles warmly at him and unexpectedly refers to him as a “radiant light being” (24), taking him aback. She then shows him around the property, explaining that he will be staying in the spare room of her and Archie’s cottage—Wisteria Cottage.

The cottage is adorned with bookshelves, candles, and extravagant furniture crafted by Archie. Jake’s room is entirely decorated in lavender hues and smells strongly of lavender flowers. H is repulsed by the color and smell, finding it overwhelming. Next, Lucille shows Jake the schoolroom, a space brimming with books, school desks, and walls adorned with hand-drawn maps and illustrations. A banner reads, “EDUCATION IS AN ADVENTUROUS QUEST FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE, INVOLVING AN ABILITY TO THINK THINGS THROUGH” (27). She assigns Jake a desk and informs him that he will be partnering with E.D. She then takes him to the kitchen, where the Applewhites are having breakfast. The lively chatter and chaotic energy of the Applewhite household leave Jake feeling destabilized.

After breakfast, E.D. ventures into the meadow armed with her butterfly net and camera, intent on collecting butterflies for her Butterfly Project. Her goal is to collect several types of butterflies, photograph them, and catalog them. She dreads the idea of Jake accompanying her, doubting his ability to handle “anything as fragile and beautiful as a butterfly” (32). Despite her efforts, after two hours of searching, she still hasn’t found the specific butterfly she needs—a great spangled fritillary.

Lucille appears with Jake in tow, explaining that she’s giving him a tour and encouraging E.D. to join them. As Lucille shows him the vegetable garden, where Lucille shares that the nature spirits have instructed her to make it round, Jake’s disinterest is palpable. As the tour continues, E.D. recounts the story of the rescue of their goats, Wolfie and Hazel. They walk past Paulie the parrot, who engages in a swearing exchange with Jake, and they visit the wood shop where Zedediah and Archie are hard at work. As they head to the schoolroom, they pass by the music studio where Cordelia is dancing. She captivates Jake’s attention, leaving him unable to look away.

Lucille then prompts E.D. to explain the curriculum to Jake while she gets rid of the withering bouquets scattered around the schoolroom. However, Jake shows little interest and instead asks if they have a TV, to which E.D. responds that they don’t watch it. Lucille suggests they work together on the Butterfly Project, and E.D. groans. Reluctantly, they head to the meadow together in pursuit of the great spangled fritillary. Growing increasingly frustrated, Jake says he doesn’t intend on staying at Wit’s End for long. E.D. responds by revealing the harsh reality—no other foster families are willing to take him in, and he is facing Juvenile Hall if he doesn’t comply. Jake remains silent.

Jake sits on the front porch steps of the main house, listening to his Walkman radio. He’s waiting for dinner time, wondering what the Applewhites will prepare. For lunch, they served tofu burgers, which he really disliked. Recalling his conversation with E.D. in the meadow, he remembers his social worker’s warning about this being his final chance. He initially doubted the gravity of her words, but he now realizes the seriousness of his situation. Getting expelled from Traybridge Middle School had been easy. Everyone has been scared of the “bad kid from the city” (40), and he lived up to this label. Yet, he doesn’t want to end up in juvie like some of his friends from home. Jake considers his two options—the Applewhites or juvie—and resolves to make it work.

Suddenly, Destiny emerges from the bushes and approaches Jake, asking him whether he used matches to set fire to his school. Jake lies, claiming he utilized a lighter and a bottle of gasoline—no one ever bought his explanation that it was an accident.

Randolph Applewhite and Cordelia step onto the porch. Randolph asks Cordelia to join his latest theater production of The Sound of Music at the community theatre. Cordelia, however, says that she’s busy with her fall semester project—The Death of Ophelia, for which she’s composing, playing, and dancing. Randolph tells her she needs to decide fast and, on his way to meet the board of the Traybridge Little Theatre, hastily departs in his car, only to collide with an oncoming vehicle.