She Said Yes Study Guide

After the Bernalls confronted Cassie with what they found in her room, what three statements did Cassie throw at her parents in her screaming rage?

According to the text, Cassie's first statement was "they were overreacting, because she had never been serious about killing us or anyone else, and would never dream of doing such a thing. Two, we have trampled on her rights by going through her bedroom without her permission and taking things that did not belong to us. Three, since it was obvious that we had no love at all for her, and she would kill herself and run away."

What was Mr. Bernall's first reaction when his wife became pregnant? How did it change after Cassie was born?

According to the text, Mr. Bernall "wasn't as excited as a lot of men, I have seen as they wait for their first one." When Cassie was born, cited from the text, Mr. Bernall "felt like a brand new, totally different person. Suddenly I was in love with my wife."

Explain how Cassie acted for sometime after the Bernalls contacted the sheriff and their pastor.

Cassie was acting moody and was threatening to run away. According to the text,"day after day, week after week, Cassie would erupt in fits of anger and despair, and we never knew quite what she would say or do next." Also, she said obsecure outbursts, like she's going to kill herself or run away and scream and cry.

Cassie threatened suicide many times to her parents. What was Cassie's "compromise" because she was too scared to follow through with suicide?

Cassie's "compromise" was "by scratching her hands and wrists with a sharp metal file until she bled." She mentioned that it hurt, and she deserved the pain.

Mrs. Bernall debated whether sleep or being awake was better. Why did Mrs. Bernall feel "insomnia is the lesser of the evil"? What does this say about the human mind?

Mrs. Bernall feels that "insomnia is the lesser of the evil" because she would dream about Cassie's death or worse and wouldn't be able to sleep. This says that reccurence of memories trigger either dreams or nightmares.

What's one thing that has been helpful to Mrs. Bernall in getting over everything that she reminds herself about? What does this say about support groups when dealing with problems?

One thing that has been helpful to Mrs. Bernall in getting over everything is "reminding herself that she is not the only one who is suffering, and trying to reach out to others who are struggling like she is. "This says about support groups when dealing with problems that everyone is going through something and you aren't the only one.

According to Mrs. Bernall, what is the "best way to overcome your worst fears" and why do you think the Bernalls viewed the shooting?

The "best way to overcome your worst fears" is to do the fear. The Bernalls viewed the shooting because to see the damage and what Cassie went through.

Describe what was the morning like that particular Tuesday in the Bernall household before the kids left for school? How does that relate to the type of morning in your house?

The Bernall household had a morning rountine starting by waking up, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and leaving for school.

What seemed to be the only thing that kept Mr. and Mrs. Bernall going in the face of such a crisis with all the things that could have happened to their daughter and why didn't Mrs. Bernall want to accept the fact that her daughter was dead?

The Bernalls were thinking that their daughter would nonetheless be injured or worse dead. Quoted by Mrs. Bernall, " Hope is really the only thing that will keep you going in such a crisis, even if it's a thin shred."

The Bernalls talked about allowing Cassie to participate in one-activity youth group activities. The farthest from their mind was to "jam" religion down her throat. The one thing they wanted to avoid was rejection. What where they ultimately hoping for their daughter to find?

The Bernalls were ultimately hoping for their daughter to find was: -"they wanted her to find a new lease on life in a place where she would not be tempted to return to her old, self-destructive ways"

Doctors say the brain has the ability to forget pain. According to Mrs. Bernall, what does not? What reassurance can be found in the recesses of the mind for Mrs. Bernall? In other words, what do people hold on to when tragedy hits?

The heart does not forget pain. The reassurance to be found in the recesses of her mind, is the happy, simple things that held her and her family. Lastly, Mrs. Bernall writes, "Though uneventful in themselves, they are strangely satisfying to hang on to, and comforting to replay."

Mrs. Bernall struggles with trying to let go of the tragedy, but yet wanting to talk about Cassie to anyone who will listen. What is unusual and the most difficult about Cassie dying according to Mrs. Bernall?

The unusual and the most difficult about Cassie dying acording to Mrs. Bernall is why did it have to be her daughter and "the feeling of loneliness and vulnerability of despair."