Chapter 26: Gutter Ball – Bowling, Family, and Unspoken Pasts

⚠️ 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

Cliff picks Jolene up for their usual carpool, but a text from “Grace” makes Jolene believe he has a date. To her surprise, Grace is Cliff’s sister, who invites Jolene to join them for bowling with their grandmother Lisa. At the alley, Grace reveals that Cliff moved back to Calgary from Vancouver to care for Lisa after her surgery; his previous job involved helping displaced people find housing and employment. Jolene struggles with her bowling performance and is triggered by a pinball machine, recalling the last time she bowled with her late friend Ellie. Cliff’s kindness and the warmth of his family help Jolene feel more grounded, yet she remains aware of the distance between their lives and futures.

Key Events

Cliff receives a text from “Grace” while driving, leading Jolene to mistakenly think he has a date.
Jolene meets Grace, who turns out to be Cliff’s sister, and is invited to bowl with the family.
At the bowling alley, Jolene meets Cliff’s grandmother Lisa, a lively woman recovering from surgery.
Grace privately tells Jolene that Cliff used to work in Vancouver helping people and moved back only for Lisa’s care.
Jolene bowls poorly but improves slightly when Cliff lends her his “lucky” ball.
A pinball machine triggers Jolene’s memory of bowling with Ellie, causing an emotional pause.
Cliff buys everyone hot dogs and comfort food, making Jolene feel included.
Jolene reflects on the contrast between her messy inner life and the seemingly easy normalcy of Cliff’s family.

Character Development

Jolene: Her social anxiety shows when she worries about embarrassing herself bowling and meeting new people. Learning about Cliff’s past and his family’s kindness opens her to vulnerability, but the memory of Ellie reminds her how grief still shadows her present.
Cliff: Previously seen mainly as a colleague, now revealed as deeply family-oriented. He left a meaningful job in Vancouver to care for his grandmother without complaint, hiding this sacrifice from Jolene.
Grace: Sharp, warm, and direct, she quickly bonds with Jolene and shares intimate family details, acting as a bridge between Jolene and Cliff’s private life.
Lisa (Granny): A tough, affectionate woman who raised Cliff and Grace. Her recovery from surgery is nearly complete, and her playful dynamic with Cliff shows their close bond.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The family secret/reveal: Cliff’s past job and reason for being in Calgary are disclosed through Grace, highlighting how people are often not what they seem and how caring for family can reshape a life.
Bowling as metaphor: Jolene’s gutter balls and clumsy attempts mirror her struggle to navigate social situations and her own grief. The “lucky” ball from Cliff symbolizes the small acts of trust that help her try again.
Memory and loss: The pinball machine triggers a vivid memory of Ellie, Jolene’s deceased best friend. The experience threatens to overwhelm Jolene, but she manages to stay present rather than retreat.
Vancouver vs. Calgary: Vancouver represents Cliff’s fulfilling former life; Calgary is his temporary sacrifice for family. Jolene’s realization that he may leave again underscores her fear of impermanence.
Food as connection: The hot dogs and nachos, while humble, become a shared ritual. Cliff’s gesture of buying Jolene food despite her protest signals his care for her well-being.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 26 deepens Jolene’s relationship with Cliff by introducing his family and exposing his hidden sacrifices. It also lays the groundwork for potential future conflict: Jolene now knows Cliff may move away, and her unresolved grief for Ellie resurfaces, reminding readers that her healing is incomplete. The bowling alley setting allows for subtle physical proximity (hand brushing, intentional distance) that advances the slow-burn romance without overt declaration. This chapter solidifies that Cliff is not just a work friend but a man with a rich, complicated life outside Supershops.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Jolene initially assume Grace is Cliff’s date? How does the author use that assumption to develop Jolene’s character?
Jolene sees a text from “Grace” and immediately jumps to the conclusion that Cliff has a girlfriend. This reaction highlights her low self-esteem and fear of rejection, as well as her habit of interpreting ambiguous situations pessimistically. The author subverts the trope by revealing Grace is Cliff’s sister, which both relieves Jolene and makes her feel foolish—showing her tendency to catastrophize.

2. What does Grace’s revelation about Cliff’s life in Vancouver reveal about him? Why might he have kept this information from Jolene?
Cliff worked a meaningful job helping displaced people find housing and employment; he moved back to Calgary only to care for his grandmother after surgery. His silence may stem from humility or a desire not to burden Jolene with his own life decisions. It also suggests that Cliff compartmentalizes his work and personal life, and that he might be considering returning to Vancouver now that Lisa is better.

3. How does the pinball machine trigger Jolene’s grief over Ellie, and how does she cope with it in the moment?
The sound of a pinball machine reminds Jolene of the last time she went bowling with Ellie. The memory is bittersweet and nearly overwhelms her; she feels as if she is “writing over” that memory. She copes by physically wrapping her arms around herself and then by accepting Cliff’s offer of a hot dog, allowing his simple kindness to anchor her back to the present. The moment illustrates her ongoing struggle with grief and her capacity to find comfort in small human connections.