Summary: Chapter 31
In Granton, Naomi often went to the swamp to hang out.
One evening Stephen came along on his bicycle. She showed him a
frog with a broken leg, and he told her to come home. She brought
the frog with her, imagining that it might be a prince. Nakayama-sensei was
at the house. Naomi says she doesn’t remember when she was told,
though at this point in the narrative, we’re not sure what Naomi
is referring to. She remembers going outside, gathering water and
mud, and making a home for the frog in a glass bowl. She feeds the
frog for weeks, until its leg heals and it escapes.
Summary: Chapter 32
In 1951, the family moved to a
house in town. Stephen worked on a cantata for a school production.
Penny Barker, the daughter of the farmers for whom Naomi’s family
worked, came to their house, probably to petition Stephen for a
part, and Naomi told her that her father was dead. As soon as she
said the words aloud, she felt sick.
Stephen said that Mother and Grandma must be dead, too.
Aunt Emily had written hundreds of letters trying to find them,
with no success. However, two letters in the package Emily sends
to Obasan’s house in the present day concern a request for Mother’s readmission
to Canada, which suggests that the sisters had been in contact.
Summary: Chapter 33
After high school, Stephen went to the Royal Conservatory
of Music in Toronto. There, he won a prize for a piano competition and
toured Europe. He also spent time with Aunt Emily, whom Naomi hadn’t
seen in twelve years at that point. When he came home to Granton
from school, he was surly and quiet. He sometimes refused to eat
Obasan’s food. During one of Stephen’s summer breaks, Aunt Emily
came for a visit. She was warm to Naomi, but didn’t smile when she
greeted Obasan. One night, Naomi hears the adults whispering about
whether or not to tell the children something. Obasan prays, and
Aunt Emily cries.
Summary: Chapter 34
The cardboard folder Aunt Emily had on that mysterious
night is included in her package. Earlier that day, Naomi had seen
Obasan reading its contents with a magnifying glass.
Mr. Barker, the family’s former employer, comes over with
his second wife, Vivian, to say he’s sorry for Obasan’s loss. Vivian reminds
Naomi of the first Mrs. Barker, who didn’t want her daughter Penny
playing with Stephen and Naomi. Through Vivian’s eyes, Naomi sees
how cluttered and unappealing the house is. Mr. Baker asks after
Stephen, but Naomi hasn’t seen him in eight years. The last time
he came home, he brought a divorcée from Paris with him.
