35. The Blue Bopper. Sophie’s next journal entry focuses on recounting a story the three uncles tell about a rubber dinghy they found when they were kids called “The Blue Bopper.” They were so excited to use the dinghy that they immediately pushed it out into the water, but only after the waves had carried them far beyond the shore did they realize that they’d forgotten to bring paddles. Though they eventually got back to shore, they can’t remember how, exactly. This story troubles Sophie—the image of being out on the water without any paddles makes her anxious, and she decides to go below deck to be alone.
The way the uncles’ story troubles Sophie exposes more about her fear of water. Just the thought of being trapped out on the water without any paddles is enough to make her shudder, and feel the need to go into solitude to recover. While Sophie wants to be out on the ocean, the thought of it consuming and trapping her nonetheless terrifies her, exemplifying another way the “push-pull” she feels with water affects her.