Chapter 9: January – A Sugar Glider, Confessions, and a Fatal Mistake

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Frank tells his mother that Cleo is unhappy. His mother suggests getting a pet. At work, Frank’s colleague Eleanor recommends a sugar glider. Frank travels to the Bronx to buy one from a woman living with her mother. He brings the glider home, and Cleo names it “Oh Jesus How I Adore You,” shortened to Jesus. The couple bonds over caring for the animal. They discuss children, and Cleo opens up about her mother’s bipolar disorder and suicide. Frank wins the Kapow! account and invites Cleo to South Africa. That evening at the office celebration, Frank flirts with Eleanor, touches her hand, then pulls away. He breaks his vow to stop drinking. Later, drunk, he leaves the bathroom door open. In the morning, he discovers the sugar glider drowned in the toilet. He flushes her body and vomits as the water rises.

Key Events

Frank calls his mother to discuss Cleo’s unhappiness; she suggests a pet.
At work, Eleanor recommends a sugar glider; Frank buys one from a woman in the Bronx.
Frank gives the sugar glider to Cleo; they name her “Oh Jesus How I Adore You” (Jesus).
At a Petco, a junior manager reveals sugar gliders are illegal in all five boroughs.
Frank and Cleo bond while caring for Jesus; they discuss having children.
Cleo reveals her mother’s mental illness and suicide.
Frank and Cleo have a heated argument in which he calls her a spoiled brat.
Frank wins the Kapow! account and invites Cleo to South Africa; Cleo chooses to attend a protest instead.
At the office celebration, Frank flirts with Eleanor, touches her hand, then tells her it means nothing.
Frank breaks his sobriety plan and drinks vodka.
Drunk, he leaves the bathroom door open; the sugar glider drowns in the toilet.
Frank flushes the body and vomits as the water backs up.

Character Development

Frank shows his guilt about his absent mother and his desire to be a better partner. His flirtation with Eleanor reveals his emotional infidelity, and his drinking relapse highlights his struggle with self-control. The accidental death of Jesus underscores his carelessness when drunk.

Cleo becomes more vulnerable, sharing her mother’s tragic story. She demonstrates nurturing qualities but also independence by choosing the protest over Frank’s celebration. Her argument with Frank shows she will not tolerate being belittled.

Eleanor remains an enigmatic presence. She is perceptive and honest, refusing to lie even for convenience. Her father’s illness adds depth to her character.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The pet as a substitute: The sugar glider represents Frank’s attempt to fix Cleo’s unhappiness without addressing the underlying issues.
Water and drowning: The toilet drowning mirrors Cleo’s fear of being overwhelmed by her mother’s fate, and foreshadows Frank’s own emotional crash.
Communication breakdown: Frank and Cleo struggle to talk openly; Frank confesses to his mother and flirts with Eleanor rather than confiding in Cleo.
Mental illness legacy: Cleo’s story about her mother raises the fear that she may inherit a similar instability.
Alcohol as escape: Frank’s drinking relapse after vowing to stop signals his inability to cope with stress without numbing himself.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the novel’s first major tragedy. It deepens Cleo’s backstory, exposing her deepest fear, and shows Frank’s weakness as a husband. The death of Jesus symbolizes the fragility of their marriage and the damage Frank’s secrets can do. It also sets up the emotional stakes for the rest of the story.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Frank decide to buy a sugar glider instead of a cat or dog?
He wants a pet that suits Cleo’s allergy and their lifestyle. Eleanor’s suggestion appeals because the creature is unusual, and Frank hopes a unique gift will reconnect with Cleo.

2. What does Cleo’s confession about her mother reveal about her fears?
She fears becoming like her mother—unstable, self-destructive, and unable to maintain relationships. Her question “What if something happens to you?” shows she worries Frank will abandon her.

3. How does Frank’s behavior at the bar contradict his promises to Cleo?
He promised to stop drinking and to be honest. Yet he flirts with Eleanor, touches her hand, and later drinks vodka. His relapse directly causes the glider’s death, breaking the trust he tried to rebuild.