The Last Rung on the Ladder

The two parts of the story, the flashback to Katrina and Larry’s childhood, and the present day in which Katrina has died, create a stark view of the loss of innocence that children experience as part of their coming-of-age process. For Katrina, this coming of age includes the realization that the world is no longer a safe place. The only person she still trusts into adulthood is Larry, and he proves unreliable when she is in need.

Although the incident of Katrina’s fall from the ladder is terrifying, the early period in Katrina and Larry’s life is generally happy. They have a loving family and take care of each other. The barn, where most of the flashback takes place, is a peaceful and pleasant place for two young children (aside from the broken ladder). More importantly, Katrina feels safety and trust in the world around her, to a degree that Larry does not share. Larry can never bring himself to swan dive headfirst like Katrina does, noting, “I think I never believed the hay was there the way Kitty believed it” (299). She also lets go of the ladder rung when Larry tells her to without even knowing how he plans to save her.