Chapter 35 Summary and Analysis: The Closet
⚠️ 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
After Christmas break, Lily returns to school nervous about seeing Kath. Their first encounter in the bright hallway feels anticlimactic until a shared blush reminds them of their alley kiss. They can only speak in coded words, asking each other if they are “all right.” Walking home together, they discuss when each realized their feelings. Lily first noticed Kath in Senior Goals when Kath said her dream to go to the moon was not strange. Kath had noticed Lily earlier, watching her chew her lip while doing geometry. At the top of Russian Hill, Kath whispers she wants to kiss again, but they have no private place. Lily remembers a key to a home-economics storage closet from her dance committee days. Over several days, she struggles to avoid Shirley’s demands for Miss Chinatown preparations. Finally, on Thursday, she retrieves the key, and they hide in the closet. In the dark, cramped space, Lily nearly flees, but Kath’s vulnerable question makes her ashamed. She chooses to stay, and they share a deliberate, weighted kiss—a mutual commitment to this secret relationship.
Key Events
- Lily and Kath’s first school encounter after their alley kiss, charged with coded questions.
- They walk home together, discussing the origins of their attraction.
- Lily recalls her first real notice of Kath during a Senior Goals class.
- Kath confesses she noticed Lily earlier, during a geometry proof.
- They express desire to kiss again but lack a safe location.
- Lily devises a plan using the home-economics storage closet key.
- She navigates around Shirley’s demands for the Miss Chinatown contest.
- Lily and Kath meet in the closet; Lily nearly retreats but stays.
- They kiss deliberately, affirming their mutual choice.
Character Development
Lily Hu: This chapter marks a turning point in Lily’s self-awareness. She moves from passive acceptance to active pursuit of her feelings. She admits that she has not known about her attraction to girls “for real” until Kath. Her fear of discovery is palpable, yet she overcomes the urge to flee. By retrieving the key and leading Kath to the closet, she takes responsibility for creating a space for their intimacy. The seriousness of the kiss reflects her growing commitment.
Kath Miller: Kath reveals her own timeline of self-discovery, saying she has always known she was “different.” She is vulnerable when asking if Lily is changing her mind, showing her fear of rejection. Her tenderness—kissing with questions—demonstrates her care for Lily’s consent. She is equally invested in the relationship, but perhaps more experienced in accepting her identity.
Shirley: Although not present in the scene, Shirley’s offscreen demands create an obstacle that Lily must navigate, highlighting the social pressures and the need for secrecy.
Jean: Referenced as a warning example of what can happen if they are discovered, Jean’s implied fate underscores the high stakes.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Secrecy and Risk: The entire chapter revolves around the danger of being discovered. The bright school hallway, the exposed hilltop, and the closet with no inside lock all symbolize the constant threat. Jean’s fate serves as a warning, mentioned implicitly when they “knew what could happen if they were discovered; Jean had shown them.” The closet becomes both a sanctuary and a trap.
Public vs. Private Identity: The contrast between the fluorescent-lit school and the dark closet emphasizes the split between Lily’s public life and her hidden desires. The coded conversations (“Are you… all right?”) illustrate the necessity of concealment.
Touch and Consent: The physical descriptions—accidental brushes, deliberate handholding, the kiss—are laden with meaning. Kath’s questioning kisses show a mutual negotiation of desire. Lily’s choice to stay rather than flee underscores agency.
Everyday Spaces as Sites of Resistance: A storage closet, a mundane school space, is transformed into a place of radical intimacy. This motif recurs throughout the novel as Lily and Kath carve out private moments in a hostile world.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 35 solidifies Lily and Kath’s relationship as a conscious, chosen partnership rather than a momentary thrill. Lily’s active role in arranging the meeting demonstrates her growth from passive observer to active participant in her own life. The chapter also deepens the tension between personal desire and societal threat, setting up future conflicts. The reference to Jean—likely Jean King from earlier chapters—underscores the high stakes. This is a pivotal moment where the girls affirm their commitment despite the risks, making it crucial for character development and plot progression.
Study Questions
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Question: Why does Lily nearly flee the closet, and what changes her mind?
Answer: Lily feels terrified at the thought of being discovered. She considers leaving to feel the relief of safety. However, Kath’s vulnerable question, “Are you changing your mind?” makes Lily ashamed. She realizes that her fear would hurt Kath, and she chooses to stay, showing that her desire for connection outweighs her fear of consequences. -
Question: How do Lily and Kath’s descriptions of when they first noticed each other reveal their different levels of self-awareness?
Answer: Lily admits she only recognized her feelings “for real” recently, through Kath, indicating a later and more sudden awakening. Kath, on the other hand, says she has always known she was “different” and that her attraction was not a surprise. This contrast shows Kath’s longer acceptance of her identity, while Lily is still coming to terms with hers. -
Question: What role does the storage closet setting play in the chapter?
Answer: The closet is cramped, dark, and dusty, symbolizing the hidden, dangerous nature of their relationship. It lacks a lock, reflecting the ever-present risk of exposure. Yet it is also a space they actively choose, transforming a mundane school utility room into a site of resistance and intimacy. The setting forces them to be physically close and to rely on touch and whispered words, intensifying the emotional weight of their kiss.