Sipsworth

When Helen wakes up, Sipsworth also awakens, and he is breathing normally. Helen gives him his medicine, and when he dutifully licks it off her finger, she says he is “Definitely a doctor’s child” (161). She watches television with Sipsworth next to her and then prepares a vegetarian feast for both of them.

As Helen and Sipsworth eat their meal, she considers inviting her new friends for Christmas: Cecil, Dr. Jamal, the librarian, and Dominic. After a nap, she strokes Sipsworth and hears his teeth crunching, which is a sign of bliss. She decides he can sleep with her in his slipper and tells him that his gift to the world is that he “bring[s] out the best in people” (168). Helen’s back aches as she takes him upstairs. She sets him on a chair in his slipper and tells him they will weather any coming storm as a family, in sickness and in health, just as she had promised Len.

Before she falls asleep, she tells Sipsworth not to fear death, but instead to look out for David and for Len, who will be waiting with a slipper and fresh peanuts. She asks him to let them know that she is fine.

Early on Sunday afternoon, Cecil knocks at Helen’s door just as Dr. Jamal pulls up. They introduce themselves and chat about Sipsworth. Cecil, who has come to install a motion-sensitive light in Helen’s backyard, is concerned that she hasn’t answered her door. He suggests that they enter through the back, and Jamal, who is concerned that Helen hasn’t opened her curtains, readily agrees.

The librarian and Dominic arrive with Helen’s books as Cecil fetches a ladder so he and Jamal can climb over the back gate. Helen finally opens the door, feeling dazed and numb in one arm. Dominic bonds with Sipsworth as she makes tea. She can hardly believe there are so many people in her house and invites them to the patio. Dominic asks if Helen had mice in Australia and she says she had two, “one big and one little” (179).

A familiar-looking neighbor knocks on the door and says he wondered if she was having a problem since so many cars were in front of her house. She recognizes him as the man who put the fish tank out. He says it belonged to his daughter’s gerbil. When Helen returns to her friends, she discovers that Sipsworth has escaped from his slipper into the garden. Helen suffers a heart attack.

Part 12, “Monday,” has no text as Helen is unconscious in the hospital.

Helen opens her eyes in the hospital. She has an IV in her arm. She thinks there is something she needs to do, but she doesn’t have the strength to stay awake.

Part 14, like Part 12, has no text as Helen is again unconscious in the hospital.

When Helen wakes again on Thursday, the nurse Kathy is in her room. Kathy tells her she has had cardiac surgery and must rest. Cecil is waiting to see Helen and tells her he’s sure Sipsworth is fine as he and Dominic left food and shelter for him on the patio. He reminds her that Sipsworth left his slipper on his own; perhaps Helen nursed him back to strength so he could return to nature. Helen cries but agrees with Cecil that Sipsworth is doing exactly what a mouse ought to do.

Dr. Jamal comes by and discusses Helen’s condition. She has had a stent inserted. That evening, he drives her home. It is snowing, and the town is decorated for Christmas. After he leaves, she sits quietly, thinking about Sipsworth.

Early on Friday morning, Helen decides to go upstairs to bed. She hears a light tapping, and as she passes the patio door, the light Cecil has installed goes on. She looks down at the place where she once stepped on the glue traps and sees Sipsworth, who has a paw on the door.