Stand Tall

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use.

Bradley, the Benton family dog, is a symbol that represents loyalty and unconditional love. Knowing nothing of divorce, Bradley remains attached to each person in the family and shows his uncomplicated love to them. When Tree feels sad about his parents’ split, “Bradley padded over, put his paw in Tree’s hand. Bradley understood when people needed comfort” (12). Attuned to his family, Bradley offers support when someone needs it with no strings attached. This is also evident when Larry comes home drunk one night. After Larry yells at Grandpa and the dog, Bradley follows the boy into his room and “just sat there with his big trusting eyes waiting to help” (86). Despite being yelled at, the dog stays by Larry’s side because he senses the boy’s distress, showing that he still loves Larry no matter how angry he is. Later, when Tree’s mom introduces her date, she calls Bradley her “former dog.” Then, “Bradley’s cloudy eyes looked up in undying loyalty,” for “there is no such thing as a former dog” (166). Once Bradley forges a bond, he keeps it, evident in the notion that he cannot be a “former” pet.