Reminders of Him: Chapter 9 Summary
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This page contains detailed discussion of events in Chapter 9 of Reminders of Him. If you have not read the chapter, you may wish to do so before proceeding.
Summary
The chapter opens with Ledger returning home from the night before. He deliberately parks his truck outside the garage because Diem likes to see it in the morning. His parents have surprised him with a visit and are asleep in the guest room. They travel in an RV and bought him the house years ago. Ledger is slowly building a new house with Roman, working on it every Sunday.
He heads across the street to Patrick and Grace’s house. Diem is eating eggs and sitting on the kitchen table. Ledger reminds her she has a baseball game and needs to get dressed. Grace mentions that Diem wants a swing set for her fifth birthday, the same kind Ledger used to have. Ledger reveals he still has it in pieces in the shed; he disassembled it after Scotty’s death because the sight upset him.
Patrick and Grace cannot attend the game because Grace’s sister is having elective surgery and they need to feed her cats. Ledger notices that Patrick and Grace never argue, not even when Scotty was a child. He wishes for a relationship like that someday but feels he works too hard to make time for one.
Diem insists on wearing cowboy boots to the game despite Ledger’s protests. She tells a story about eating a baby dragon she bought at Walmart, cooked with salt and shampoo. Ledger picks up Roman, who grumbles about coaching kids’ baseball. Roman argues that religion is a social construct and calls the baseball field “hell.”
Key Events
- Ledger’s parents surprise him with an unannounced visit and leave again the same morning.
- Diem asks for a swing set identical to the one Ledger once owned; Ledger admits he disassembled it after Scotty’s death.
- Patrick and Grace reveal they will miss Diem’s game; Ledger agrees to take care of her afterward.
- Diem refuses to change out of her cowboy boots, so Ledger brings her sneakers as backup.
- Ledger drives to Roman’s house; Roman complains about coaching and argues about religion.
- Diem tells an elaborate story about eating a baby dragon, showing her imaginative nature.
Character Development
Ledger – In this chapter, Ledger’s grief over Scotty surfaces when he mentions the swing set. He is pulled between his responsibilities to Diem, his work, and his own desires, including his attraction to a woman he met the previous night. He admires the stable relationship of Patrick and Grace and yearns for something similar, but feels he does not have the time or energy to pursue it.
Diem – She demonstrates her creative and stubborn personality. Her insistence on wearing boots and her dragon story reveal her vivid imagination. Ledger notes that he never tries to suppress this part of her, even when it is inconvenient.
Roman – We see Roman’s grumpy, cynical side. He dislikes children and only coaches because Ledger assigned him the task. His philosophical dismissal of religion contrasts with the more sentimental moments of the chapter.
Grace and Patrick – Though not deeply explored, their partnership serves as an ideal for Ledger. He observes that they never argue, even during difficult times, and he values that stability.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Grief and Objects – The swing set is a symbol of Ledger’s unresolved grief. He dismantled it because it reminded him of Scotty, and now Diem wants it back, forcing him to confront that memory.
- Parenthood and Responsibility – Ledger’s care for Diem highlights the everyday sacrifices of parenting. He prioritizes her needs even when exhausted or distracted by his own emotions.
- Imagination vs. Reality – Diem’s dragon story blurs the line between lie and imagination. Ledger chooses to see it as creativity rather than deception.
- Relationship Ideals – Ledger’s admiration for Grace and Patrick’s marriage reflects his desire for a committed, peaceful partnership.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens our understanding of Ledger’s inner life. It shows the weight of his past with Scotty and his struggle to move forward while raising Diem. The introduction of the swing set foreshadows a reckoning with his grief. Additionally, Ledger’s feelings about the woman from the night before (presumably Kenna) hint at a budding romantic subplot. Roman’s presence adds comic relief while also underscoring Ledger’s isolation—Roman is a collaborator but not a close emotional confidant.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Ledger park his truck outside the garage?
Ledger parks outside because Diem likes to see his truck from her window in the morning. When he leaves it in the garage, Grace says it makes Diem sad.
2. What does the swing set reveal about Ledger’s grief?
The swing set was originally in his backyard but was disassembled after Scotty’s death because seeing it upset Ledger. Diem wants it rebuilt for her fifth birthday, forcing Ledger to address the painful memory connected to it.
3. How does Ledger feel about Diem’s imaginative stories?
Ledger is impressed rather than worried by Diem’s stories. He does not want to suppress her creativity, even though he occasionally wonders about her grasp of reality.