The next day, Carley takes the Mother’s Day card she intended to give to Mrs. Murphy to school, where she rips it up and leaves pieces in several trash cans. At home, she avoids Mrs. Murphy, but Mrs. Murphy stops her in the hall to say she feels badly about the talk and hopes Carley knows that she would never hurt her. She also tells Carley she loves her. 

On Mother’s Day, Carley strongly regrets not having a card for Mrs. Murphy. Mrs. Murphy tells her that she must go to visit her mother the next day. Carley is upset; Mrs. Murphy tells her that she doesn’t have to be strong all the time. Carley tries to change the subject, though, and asks about The Giving Tree. She says it makes no sense that the tree just gives and gives of itself without ever expecting a thing in return. Mrs. Murphy tries to tell Carley that the book’s theme is unconditional love, but Carley doesn’t understand until Mrs. Murphy tells her more straightforwardly that the book is “about a mother’s love for her child” (181).