Chapter Nine: Sadako's Last Moments Summary and Analysis

Early in the morning on October 25, 1955, Fujiko called Shigeo at the barbershop to tell him to hurry to Sadako's bed. His daughter was dying. Shigeo put little Eiji in the basket of his bicycle and pedaled to the hospital as fast as he could. Sadako was so weak she could hardly open her eyes or speak. She was still clinging to life and expressed the hope that the doctor hadn't given up on her. Soon all of Sadako's siblings were there as well as her teacher and some of her classmates. Shigeo tried to encourage her to eat something. She asked for ochazuke which is a mixture of rice and hot tea. It is considered a treat. When the dish arrived from the kitchen, Shigeo spoon-fed the rice dish to his daughter. She...