Chapter 35: Alarming Answers Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

Jolene reports to Cliff’s office for their training session. Cliff is professional and distant, handing her a pistachio‑rosewater donut she sees as a kind gesture. She tries to explain the awkward situation with Armin, but Cliff says it is none of his business as HR. Their conversation becomes strained when Jolene asks why he wants her to pass the training; Cliff says he wants good things for her and likes her, but when she starts to confess deeper feelings he quickly clarifies that she is his friend. Hurt, Jolene blurts out that she knows he is moving back to Vancouver because she saw his phone. Cliff is stunned, and after she admits she saw the message “by accident,” he insists that their roles have boundaries. Jolene angrily suggests they stop being friends and carpooling, and Cliff agrees. A fire alarm sounds. Jolene flees to the bathroom on her floor and hides in a stall. She overhears Rhonda on the phone, crying and telling her son that she cannot give him money that could kill him—he is an addict. Rhonda discovers Jolene. After an emotional exchange, Rhonda shares her grief over her son’s addiction and her fear of enabling him. Jolene hugs Rhonda, tells her she is not alone, and Rhonda leaves. Jolene then goes to the copy room and mindlessly adds Jet‑Dry to the dishwasher, feeling the hollow weight of hidden sorrow.

Key Events

Cliff gives Jolene a Persian donut but maintains a stiff, professional demeanor, signaling a shift in their personal rapport.
Jolene asks why Cliff wants her to pass the training; he says he likes her but immediately clarifies that she is a friend.
When Jolene starts to confess feelings, Cliff cuts her off by emphasizing the friend label.
Jolene reveals she saw Cliff’s email about moving to Vancouver by looking at his phone, leading to an argument about boundaries.
Jolene suggests ending their friendship and carpooling; Cliff agrees.
A fire alarm forces Jolene to run to a bathroom where she hides in a stall.
She overhears Rhonda sobbing on the phone, refusing to give money to her son because it could enable his addiction.
Rhonda catches Jolene in the stall, and they share a raw conversation about grief, parenthood, and feeling alone.
Jolene hugs Rhonda and says “You’re not alone,” before Rhonda leaves abruptly.
In the copy room, Jolene performs the mundane task of putting Jet‑Dry into the dishwasher, symbolizing a return to hollow routine.

Character Development

Jolene shows both vulnerability and defiance. Her impulsive confession about Cliff’s phone reveals her desperation to hold onto a connection, but when Cliff maintains his professional boundary, she lashes out by proposing to end their friendship. Later, her encounter with Rhonda forces Jolene to see past her own pain: she offers comfort to a coworker she previously distrusted, showing her capacity for empathy. The chapter ends with Jolene feeling the weight of unspoken sorrow—hers and others’.

Cliff is caught between his HR role and his personal feelings. He tries to be kind (the donut) but insists on boundaries, and he refuses to admit any deeper attachment. His agreement to end the carpool suggests he is protecting himself as much as enforcing workplace rules.

Rhonda appears for the first time as a fully human character. The tough, sarcastic HR assistant is revealed to be a grieving mother of a son battling addiction. Her phone call exposes her shame, fear, and loneliness. Her confession to Jolene—that she has lost friends and feels useless—adds layers to a minor character who was previously defined only by her abrasive work persona.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Boundaries and connection. The central tension of the chapter: Cliff insists on HR boundaries, while Jolene craves authentic personal connection. Their relationship crumbles because of the roles they occupy, not because of a lack of feeling.

Hidden pain beneath the workplace facade. Both Rhonda and Jolene wear masks at work. Rhonda’s grief is a secret she carries to her desk every day; Jolene hides her loneliness and recent revelations. The bathroom—a private space within the office—becomes the only place where these truths are exposed.

The fire alarm as an escape. The clanging alarm lets Jolene flee the painful conversation with Cliff. It serves as both a literal interruption and a symbol of her desire to avoid emotional conflict.

The donut and the dishwasher. The pistachio‑rosewater donut represents Cliff’s effort to maintain kindness, yet it becomes a painful reminder of what is being lost. The Jet‑Dry and spotted glassware at the end underscore the emptiness of routine and the sorrow that waits just below the surface.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 35 is a turning point in Jolene’s relationship with Cliff. Their friendship, previously built on carpooling and secret glances, ends formally when Jolene forces the issue. The chapter also reveals the hidden struggles of a seemingly minor character (Rhonda), broadening the novel’s exploration of how people cope with private crises in a workplace environment. Jolene’s decision to comfort Rhonda—despite their earlier tension—shows her growth and signals that she may be learning to reach out rather than isolate.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Jolene bring up Cliff’s move to Vancouver during their conversation?
Jolene is hurt after Cliff labels her a “friend” and cuts off her attempt to confess deeper feelings. She blurts out the information about Vancouver both to retaliate and to prove she has intimate knowledge of his life, hoping to force him to acknowledge their closeness.
What does Rhonda’s phone call reveal about her life outside the office?
Rhonda’s son is struggling with addiction, and she is tormented by the decision whether to give him money. She feels she must mourn him while he is still alive, and she fears that any financial help would enable his behaviour and could “kill him.” The call shows she is isolated, having lost her husband and friends.
How does the fire alarm function as a narrative device in this chapter?
The fire alarm interrupts Jolene’s painful argument with Cliff, giving her a physical reason to leave. Later, its ringing covers her footsteps as she hides in the bathroom, allowing her to overhear Rhonda’s private moment. When it stops, the silence forces Jolene to confront what she has witnessed.