Later Chapter 36: Jamie's Confession to Professor Burkett

⚠️ 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

Jamie Conforth visits his elderly neighbor, Professor Burkett, bringing a casserole his mother calls a “Swedish pie” (actually shepherd’s pie). The professor, now using two canes for mobility, is delighted by the company. Jamie realizes only later that Burkett has been deeply lonely since his wife Mona’s death. After putting the food in the refrigerator (which Burkett charmingly calls “the icebox”), Jamie admits he is not doing well and needs to talk. When Burkett asks if the visit concerns Mona’s missing rings—rings Jamie’s mother claimed to have found in a closet—Jamie is stunned. The professor explains he never believed that story, noting the timing was too convenient and that Jamie’s mother lacked both motive and opportunity to plant them. Jamie then reveals the truth: Mona showed him where the rings were. When Burkett asks how his wife could have done that, Jamie states flatly, “I see the dead.” A long silence follows before Burkett, intrigued, suggests they get caffeinated drinks and that Jamie tell him everything.

Key Events

Jamie arrives at Professor Burkett’s house with a casserole, noticing the professor’s increased reliance on two canes.
Burkett eagerly accepts the food and asks Jamie to put it in the refrigerator.
Jamie admits he is troubled and has chosen Burkett as a confidant.
The professor immediately guesses the confession involves Mona’s rings, revealing he had doubts about the original explanation.
Jamie confirms that Mona’s ghost led him to the rings.
Jamie directly tells Burkett, “I see the dead,” a statement that shocks but does not frighten the professor.
Burkett asks for time to prepare drinks, signaling his willingness to hear Jamie’s full story.

Character Development

Jamie Conforth: This chapter marks a turning point for Jamie. For the first time, he voluntarily—and with relief—shares his secret with an adult outside his mother’s circle. His confession is not forced; he chooses Burkett because he trusts the professor and needs to unburden himself. Jamie’s self-awareness is evident when he reflects on his own childhood self-involvement, noting he only later understood Burkett’s loneliness.

Professor Burkett: The transition from “Mr. Burkett” to “Professor Burkett” in Jamie’s narration signals a change in their relationship. Burkett proves himself a perceptive listener: he remembers the ring incident, spots the flaw in the cover story, and does not recoil from Jamie’s revelation. His request for caffeine suggests he is bracing himself for a long, important conversation. His loneliness, hinted at by the nearly empty refrigerator and his delight at a visit, adds pathos.

Mona Burkett (mentioned): Though deceased, Mona’s rings and the manner of their discovery remain a point of unresolved tension. Jamie’s confession retroactively validates her ghostly presence.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Confession and Relief: Jamie describes the act of telling his secret as “a relief” he hadn’t anticipated. The chapter emphasizes the psychological weight of carrying a hidden truth and the liberation found in sharing it with a trustworthy person.

Trust and Betrayal: Burkett never believed the story about the rings but chose not to confront Jamie’s mother. His restraint implies a deeper trust in the Conforths, or at least a willingness to wait for the real explanation. Jamie, in turn, trusts Burkett with a truth that could make him seem insane.

Loneliness: Burkett’s loneliness is subtly drawn: his two canes, his almost empty fridge, his adult daughter’s absence. This loneliness makes him receptive to Jamie’s visit and, perhaps, to the unusual story Jamie is about to tell.

Generational Wisdom: Burkett’s old-fashioned vocabulary (“icebox,” “telefungus,” “autos”) and his reference to reading detective stories position him as a figure of experience and patience. He is a teacher in the truest sense—one who listens before instructing.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 36 is a crucial turning point in Later. Up to this point, Jamie’s mother, Liz, was the only living person who knew about his ability (and even she was not fully informed about the ring incident). Jamie’s decision to confide in Professor Burkett expands the circle of trust and sets up a new mentor relationship. Burkett’s receptive, analytical reaction validates Jamie’s experiences and allows the narrative to move forward without the burden of secrecy. The chapter also resolves the lingering mystery of the lost rings: Burkett now knows the truth, and Jamie no longer has to hide that part of his story. Furthermore, the professor’s detective-story mindset prepares him (and the reader) for the more complex supernatural and criminal elements to come. This scene is the emotional and informational bridge between Jamie’s isolated childhood and his active role in the events ahead.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Jamie choose to confess to Professor Burkett instead of someone else?
Jamie feels he has to talk to someone, and Burkett is a trusted, intelligent neighbor who has already shown kindness. Jamie also senses that Burkett, being lonely and perceptive, is a safe recipient of the truth. The professor’s immediate guess about the rings confirms Jamie made the right choice.
What does Burkett’s reaction to Jamie’s confession reveal about his character?
Burkett does not dismiss Jamie as crazy or hysterical. Instead, he calmly processes the information, asks a clarifying question, and then suggests they talk over drinks. This shows he is open-minded, genuinely curious, and capable of handling unusual revelations without judgment.
How does the author use the missing rings to deepen the plot and character motivation?
The rings serve as a tangible link between the supernatural world (Mona’s ghost) and the real world. For Jamie, recovering them was his first successful interaction with a ghost, building his confidence. For Burkett, the rings remain a puzzle whose solution reinforces Jamie’s credibility. The motif of lost-and-found objects recurs throughout the novel.