Later Chapter 1 Summary: Jamie Conklin Meets His First Ghost

⚠️ 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 chapter opens with six-year-old Jamie Conklin walking home from school, clutching the hand-turkey he made in first grade. His mother Tia, a literary agent, is distracted by work. They live in a New York apartment building where the elevator is broken, so they climb the stairs to the third floor. There they find their neighbor, Professor Marty Burkett, visibly distraught and smoking a cigarette, which is against building rules. He tells Tia that his wife Mona died that morning. Jamie sees Mona’s ghost standing nearby. Mrs. Burkett speaks to Jamie, critiquing his turkey and revealing that her rings are hidden on the top shelf of the hall closet behind scrapbooks. Jamie realizes that dead people must tell the truth—a rule he will come to rely on. Tia, unaware of the ghost, comforts Mr. Burkett and makes plans to bring him Chinese takeout for dinner. The ghost kisses her husband’s cheek, but he feels only an itch. The chapter establishes Jamie’s supernatural ability and his mother’s growing concern about his “fey” nature.

Key Events

Jamie and Tia return from school; the elevator is broken, so they take the stairs.
They encounter Marty Burkett in the hallway; he is weeping over his wife Mona’s sudden death.
Jamie sees Mona’s ghost and speaks with her—she tells him where her missing rings are.
Mrs. Burkett bluntly says Jamie’s green hand-turkey does not look like a turkey.
Tia offers comfort and arranges to bring dinner to Mr. Burkett later.
The ghost kisses Marty, but he feels only a small itch.

Character Development

Jamie Conklin: At six, Jamie is a perceptive, talkative child with a strong sense of pride in his artwork. He already understands basic social rules (don’t talk to dead people in front of the living) and shows early maturity by keeping quiet about Mrs. Burkett’s presence. His ability to see ghosts is introduced calmly, from his own perspective.
Tia Conklin: A hardworking literary agent who loves her son but is often preoccupied. She treats Jamie with warmth and humor, but she also harbors private worry about his unusual behavior, having described him as “fey” to a friend. Her instinct is to protect both Jamie and the grieving neighbor.
Marty Burkett: A professor shattered by sudden loss. His grief is raw—he rambles, cries, and repeats details. He is vulnerable and unaware of the ghost’s continued presence.
Mona Burkett (ghost): Though dead, she retains her personality, expressing both kindness (caring about Marty’s belt loops) and blunt honesty (critiquing Jamie’s turkey). She reveals the rule that the dead cannot lie.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Truth-Telling Dead: The chapter establishes the central supernatural rule: dead people must tell the truth when asked a direct question. This will drive future plot points.
Innocence and Supernatural Knowledge: Jamie’s childlike understanding of death—believing all adults tell the truth—blends naturally with his ability to see ghosts, creating a poignant contrast with adult grief and denial.
The Green Hand-Turkey: A symbol of normal childhood pride and creativity that collides with the uncanny. Mrs. Burkett’s criticism (“You’re no Rembrandt”) highlights the mundane judgments that still matter even in the face of death.
Grief and Denial: Marty’s use of “our place” shows his inability to accept his wife is gone. Tia’s gentle handling of him illustrates how the living cope by focusing on small tasks (bringing dinner, finding rings).
“Thoughts drowning in blood”: Jamie remembers Mrs. Burkett’s poetic description of her stroke, a vivid motif that lingers in his memory and captures the sudden violence of death.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter lays the foundation for the entire novel. It introduces Jamie’s unique ability in a low-stakes, domestic setting, showing both the power and the limitations of his gift (ghosts tell truth but can be inconvenient). It also establishes the secret mother-son dynamic: Tia knows Jamie is different and has already used the word “fey.” The rule about dead people telling the truth will become essential later. Furthermore, the ghost of Mona Burkett provides the first concrete example of how the dead remain connected to their former lives, offering a glimpse of the emotional weight Jamie will carry as he grows.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Jamie choose not to tell his mother or Mr. Burkett that he is talking to Mrs. Burkett’s ghost?
Jamie instinctively understands that living people cannot see or hear ghosts. He knows from his mother’s past reactions that such behavior would alarm her, especially because she already suspects he is “fey.” He also respects the unspoken rule not to freak out grieving people by conversing with their dead loved ones.

2. What does Mrs. Burkett reveal about the nature of dead people when she answers Jamie’s question about her rings?
She tells the truth directly—her rings are on the top shelf of the hall closet behind scrapbooks. Jamie later realizes that dead people are compelled to tell the truth when asked a question. This becomes a crucial rule for his interactions with the dead throughout the story.

3. How does Tia Conklin react to Jamie’s strange behavior when he seems to talk to an empty doorway?
She gives him a “strange look,” already alert to his oddities. The narrative reveals that she has described Jamie as “fey” to a friend, indicating her quiet concern. She does not confront him in front of Mr. Burkett but stores the observation away, showing her protective and observant nature.