Naturally, you will have your own personal reflection and thoughts on chapter 10, but the following ideas may help you compose your own ideas.

In this chapter, it is South Wing’s first birthday. In preparation for her birthday party, Harlen goes with Will to find her a present. As Harlen is talking to Will, he refers to South Wing as Will’s “daughter” and tells him he should “probably get married” to Louise, but Will insists that this is not what he wants. Eventually, they end up going to Granny Oldcrow’s house to find South Wing a present, and she also refers to South Wing as Will’s daughter and questions him as to if he loves her and Louise. It is at this moment that Will thinks to himself that he is “going to drown [Harlen] slow.” When they get to the birthday party, Louise and Will realize that they both got South Wing the same exact present. The chapter ends with South Wing crying in the middle of the night and Will getting up to take care of her.

This chapter may incline readers to think about what it means to be a father. Although Will is not biologically South Wing’s dad, he loves her and takes care of her. At the end of the chapter, he changes her diaper and reflects on the day she was born. His actions seem like something a father would do. It is also important to take note of the fact that he got her the same exact present as Louise, South Wing’s mother. Additionally, readers may reflect on why it frustrates Will when people call South Wing his daughter or put pressure on his relationship with Louise. Perhaps he does want to be South Wing’s dad, but it seems unattainable in his eyes.