Soul Searching Chapter 31: Collins – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
At Drama Mama's, a retro arcade and bowling alley that frequently changes name, Collins meets Brady, Clarke, Sadie, and Mitch for a night of games. Collins retrieves her old white eight-pound bowling ball and takes photos, feeling the camera is an extension of her. After a gutter ball and Brady's strike, she accidentally hits Brady in the groin with her bowling ball. Despite his injury, Brady wins at bowling. They move to Skee-Ball, and Collins wins by twenty-five points, earning Brady's playful admiration. The chapter ends with a challenge to play pool. Collins reconnects with her photography and her competitive side.
Key Events
- Collins arrives at Drama Mama's and finds her regular bowling ball.
- Brady bowls a strike; Collins takes an action shot of him.
- Collins accidentally hits Brady in the groin with her bowling ball while swinging.
- Brady wins the bowling game despite the injury.
- Collins and Brady play Skee-Ball; Collins wins by twenty-five points.
- Brady whispers "That was hot" in Collins's ear after her victory.
- The chapter ends with a pool challenge.
Character Development
Collins
Collins shows a reawakening of her passion for photography. She brings her camera without thinking and feels it is "an extension of me—my favorite part of me." This marks a return to an activity that defined her identity. Her competitive nature is on full display—she is determined to win at bowling, Skee-Ball, and pool, even when she is outmatched. Her playful banter with Brady reveals growing comfort and chemistry between them.
Brady
Brady remains confident and teasing, laughing off Collins's accidental hit and still winning at bowling. He compliments her Skee-Ball win as "hot," showing his attraction is paired with respect for her skill. His physical injury is played for humor, but it also underscores how he stays engaged and playful even when caught off guard.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Photography as Identity
Collins's camera is a symbol of her true self. She describes it as "an extension of me" and "my favorite part of me," suggesting that photography is central to her sense of purpose. Reclaiming it after time away feels healing.
Competition and Connection
The bowling and Skee-Ball games are more than just fun—they are a way for Collins and Brady to flirt and test each other. The back-and-forth trash talk and physical closeness build tension and camaraderie.
Nostalgia and Place
Drama Mama's is a time capsule (decor apparently unchanged since 1982, constant Doors music, ghosts). This nostalgic setting mirrors Collins reconnecting with her own past through photography.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Collins. It marks her first active use of photography in the story (she grabs her camera before visiting her parents and uses it here). Her comment that the camera feels like her "favorite part" of herself signals a reclamation of a lost passion. The playful competition with Brady deepens their relationship, mixing genuine attraction with mutual respect. The chapter also reinforces the novel's theme of identity rediscovery.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What does Collins's camera symbolize in this chapter?
The camera represents Collins's core identity and creative passion. She feels it is her "favorite part" of herself and uses it to capture fleeting moments, suggesting she is reconnecting with the person she was before the story's events.
2. How does the competition with Brady reveal their relationship?
The trash talk, physical proximity (Brady getting hit, whispered comments), and mutual victories show a flirtatious, equalizing dynamic. Brady respects Collins's win at Skee-Ball, and Collins enjoys the challenge. Their rivalry is a form of bonding.
3. Why does Collins bring her camera to Drama Mama's?
She brings it "without even thinking about it," indicating an instinctive pull toward photography. She uses it to document her night with family and friends, partly because she doesn't know how long places they love will remain theirs—highlighting a theme of impermanence.