Chapter 39: 37 – The Pink Christmas Tree

⚠️ 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

The day after Halloween, Mr. Schmidt arrives home flushed and out of breath, carrying a surprise in the hallway. Mrs. Schmidt (Nora) feels ill from eating too much Halloween chocolate. She guesses the surprise is a Christmas tree after hearing its distinctive sound being lugged up the stairs. Mr. Schmidt reveals a six-foot bright-pink tinsel tree he bought for twenty-five euros from a man on the corner by Taleh Thai who needed to get home to his family for Christmas. Nora admires the tree while secretly wanting to kiss him but holds back, recalling that they have not touched since the Späti incident the previous day.

They discover a lack of Christmas decorations in stores and decide to make their own using supplies left behind by their absent roommates, Sonja and Petra. Neither has opened the roommates' doors since the fake wedding because the untouched rooms feel like life ended suddenly. Nora volunteers to check. Sonja's room is a chaotic mess, containing binders, textbooks, and stacks of sheet music. Petra's room is spotless and reveals a surprising closet full of crafting supplies: pipe cleaners, Mod Podge, glue, and a large roll of green felt. They raid the closets and spend the rest of the afternoon crafting. Using sheet music from Sonja, they make snowflakes; from the felt, Nora creates a string of holly and ivy. They hang paper chains on the pink tree while listening to Vince Guaraldi's Christmas album and eating leftover Halloween candy.

Mr. Schmidt struggles with crafting while Nora excels. He blurts out that they are "meant to be" then quickly clamps his mouth shut and focuses on his ruined paper. Nora smiles to herself and says nothing. The chapter ends with a quiet domestic scene that deepens their pretend married life while underscoring the unspoken feelings between them.

Key Events

• Mr. Schmidt brings home a pink tinsel Christmas tree bought from a stranger on the street.
• Nora deduces it is a tree by the sound of it being carried up the stairs.
• They discuss their conflict-free marriage, with Nora reflecting on the rule "always pretend like the world is ending."
• Mr. Schmidt accidentally brushes Nora's hand while reaching for coffee, sending a "firecracker" through her; she downplays it as an accident.
• They decide to make homemade Christmas decorations using items left by Sonja and Petra.
• Nora enters Sonja's room (messy) and Petra's room (spotless, with hidden crafting supplies).
• They spend the afternoon crafting: sheet-music snowflakes, paper chains, and felt holly.
• Mr. Schmidt, terrible at crafting, accidentally says they are "meant to be" and immediately backs off.

Character Development

Nora (Mrs. Schmidt): Nora continues to shift personas—here adopting a Scottish accent and referencing past years as if they exist. She longs for physical contact with Jacob but rationalizes his accidental touch. She shows initiative by volunteering to enter the roommates' rooms and takes charge of the crafting. Her internal conflict between playing pretend and genuine emotion deepens.

Jacob (Mr. Schmidt): Jacob remains consistent in his "adopted husband" persona. He is kind, impulsive (buying the pink tree out of sympathy), and self-conscious about his crafting abilities. His slip of the tongue reveals that he may be investing real feelings into their arrangement.

Sonja and Petra (absent roommates): Through their rooms, the reader gains insight. Sonja's chaotic space suggests a disorganized and perhaps hasty departure; the sheet music hints at a musical side. Petra's spotless room and hidden crafting closet reveal a secret hobby Nora never associated with her, adding depth to a minor character.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Conflict avoidance: Nora reflects that her marriage with Jacob works because they never argue, saving all disagreements for "never." This underscores the fragility of their arrangement.

Crafting as bonding and avoidance: The afternoon of crafting serves as a way for Nora and Jacob to create normalcy and intimacy without directly addressing their feelings. It distracts from the looming threat and the empty bedrooms.

The pink Christmas tree: The gaudy, bright-pink tree symbolizes the absurd joy they are trying to manufacture. It is a deliberate departure from tradition, representing their improvised life.

Empty bedrooms: The doors to Sonja and Petra's rooms remain closed since the wedding. When opened, they feel like evidence of life interrupted. The crafting supplies and sheet music are remnants of the roommates' lives, now repurposed.

Nora's persona shifts: Nora adopts different accents and voices throughout the chapter, reflecting her uncertainty about her own identity and her performance of marriage. This motif highlights the theme of role-playing.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 39 deepens the domestic intimacy between Nora and Jacob while maintaining emotional tension. The crafting scene offers a rare moment of unguarded togetherness, but Jacob's slip and Nora's internal hedging remind the reader that their relationship is founded on a shared secret. The chapter also provides indirect characterization of Sonja and Petra, reminding us of the friends who left. It balances lighthearted holiday preparations with the underlying dread of the approaching end, reinforcing the novel's central tension between living fully and pretending to live.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Nora decide not to kiss Jacob after he brings the tree inside?
   She catches herself because they have not touched since the Späti incident the day before. She is uncertain whether his hand-brush was intentional and does not want to make a big deal of it, preferring to maintain the pretense that they are just playing a part.

2. How do Sonja's and Petra's rooms contrast, and what does each reveal about its occupant?
   Sonja's room is messy and chaotic, suggesting a hurried departure and perhaps a less organized personality; it contains sheet music, hinting at musical interests. Petra's room is immaculate and hides a secret crafting closet, revealing a practical, creative side Nora never noticed.

3. What role does crafting play in Nora and Jacob's relationship in this chapter?
   Crafting allows them to share an activity without confronting their feelings. It provides a distraction from the empty rooms and the broader uncertainty. Their complementary skills—Nora's talent and Jacob's ineptitude—highlight their differences and create a moment where Jacob accidentally voices that they are "meant to be."

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