Chapter summaries I Think We've Been Here Before Suzy Krause

Chapter 15 (14) Summary: The Pot Hole Encounter and Facing Mortality

⚠️ 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

Marlen has hidden an unopened package in his closet, waiting for a chance to open it alone, but Hilda keeps inadvertently thwarting his plans by tiptoeing out of the house or asking him along on errands. The couple is out of sync—like a three-legged race where they stumble over each other’s rhythm. Hilda has been compulsively redialing Nora’s number, although she doubts Nora will answer. One Saturday, Hilda suggests they visit the Pot Hole to check on Alfie, the kind owner, who lives alone with her dog and may be struggling with the news of the world’s end. Marlen agrees reluctantly, nursing a sore leg.

Inside the Pot Hole, they run into Derek—Nora’s ex-boyfriend—dining with his new girlfriend, Soph. Hilda tries to make polite conversation while Marlen glares. The encounter quickly turns awkward: Hilda’s voice goes warm out of habit, and Marlen feels she is betraying their daughter by being civil. Derek and Soph are oblivious to the tension. The couple takes the only proper table, leaving Marlen and Hilda to sit awkwardly at a repurposed teacher’s desk. Marlen complains loudly about the point of dating at a time like this, and Hilda reminds him that they themselves are on a date. Marlen then proclaims that people get used to dying quickly, stirring more embarrassment. Hilda accuses him of acting like Hank—a reference to an earlier character—and Marlen apologizes.

Eventually, Alfie arrives, carrying supplies. She comments that the rest of the town is prepping, but she believes that sitting down and having coffee is a better use of time. Marlen invites her to join them, but Alfie says she’s too busy maintaining the place. Despite her stress, she remains calm and kind, providing a stark contrast to Marlen’s grumpiness.

Key Events

  • Marlen hides a mysterious package and waits for solitude to open it.
  • Hilda repeatedly tries to call Nora with no success.
  • Marlen and Hilda go to the Pot Hole to check on Alfie.
  • They unexpectedly meet Derek, Nora’s ex, with his new girlfriend Soph.
  • Marlen makes a loud, insensitive comment about dying, embarrassing Hilda.
  • Alfie arrives, offering a perspective of acceptance rather than frantic preparation.

Character Development

Marlen: Increasingly irritable and disconnected. His cancer diagnosis and the approaching deadline (December 27) have made him blunt and socially careless. He struggles to find a way to connect with Hilda, yet his comment about “getting used to dying” reveals a defensive, not truly accepting, mindset. His shame at being compared to Hank shows he still cares about how he appears.

Hilda: Torn between old social reflexes and a new reality. She automatically tries to be pleasant to Derek, then feels guilty. Her compulsive redialing signals her desperation to reach Nora. She attempts to keep normalcy alive—suggesting the coffee date, softening Marlen’s outbursts—but she is also exhausted by the strain.

Alfie: Remains a figure of quiet stability. She acknowledges the apocalyptic situation without panic, and her remark about sitting down and having coffee offers an alternative to frantic prepping. Her presence reassures Hilda.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The three-legged race metaphor: The narrator uses this image to describe Marlen and Hilda’s marriage—out of step, unable to coordinate. Holding hands (physical connection) is offered as a way to regain sync, but they haven’t managed it.

  • Getting used to dying: Marlen argues that people become accustomed to the idea of death from childhood; Hilda counters that they only learn to ignore it. This tension reflects two coping strategies: fatalistic acceptance versus denial.

  • The Pot Hole as a community anchor: The gas station’s eclectic furniture—donations from locals—symbolizes the interconnectedness of the village. Alfie’s dedication to keeping it running represents the choice to maintain normal routines despite catastrophe.

  • Awkward social encounters: The meeting with Derek and Soph highlights how ordinary life continues even as the world ends. The discomfort of small talk amplifies the characters’ emotional dislocation.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 15 deepens the portrait of Marlen and Hilda’s strained marriage under the dual pressures of terminal illness and a global countdown. The awkward run-in with Derek forces both characters to confront how much their world has changed—Nora is unreachable, old grievances feel petty, and yet they can’t help acting on them. Alfie’s appearance offers a counterpoint: she is busy but not frantic, kind without being cloying. Her philosophy that “sitting down and having coffee” is the best response subtly challenges Marlen’s grim pronouncements. This chapter sets up the possibility that even if the world ends, moments of quiet connection still matter.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Marlen hide the package from Hilda?
He wants to open it in private, but Hilda’s constant presence—even when she tries to give him space—thwarts him. The secrecy adds to the tension between them. The contents are not revealed, but the package clearly holds personal significance.

2. How does Hilda’s behavior during the encounter with Derek contrast with Marlen’s?
Hilda falls back on social politeness, greeting Derek warmly and trying to make conversation, even though she is inwardly mortified. Marlen glowers, grunts, and later makes a loud comment about dying to embarrass the young couple. Hilda chides him for acting like Hank, and he apologizes, showing she is still the more emotionally aware partner.

3. What does Alfie mean when she says that prepping “isn’t going to do anyone any good”?
Alfie believes that in the face of inevitable destruction, frantic preparations are futile. Instead, she values ordinary human connections—like sharing coffee with friends. Her attitude offers an alternative to both denial and despair, suggesting that presence and kindness are the most meaningful responses.

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