The Coworker Chapter 31: Desperate Advice and Family Strain
⚠️ 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
Dawn emails her mother, Rhonda, asking how to get a female coworker to like her. Rhonda dismissively tells her not to bother and immediately demands an extra $2,000. Dawn refuses, citing higher rent and limited funds. Rhonda reacts with anger, accusing her daughter of ingratitude and cutting off further advice. Dawn then writes to her friend Mia, confessing her desperation after the failed email. She recounts her efforts to befriend Natalie—smiling, being nice, even suspecting Natalie threw out her turtle cupcakes and gave wrong meeting information. Dawn researched online tips on body language (head tilting, eye contact) and flattery, but admits these feel unnatural. She expresses a wish to visit Mia in Palo Alto, but Mia postpones the visit, citing work and family obligations.
Key Events
- Dawn emails her mother Rhonda for advice on winning over a female coworker.
- Rhonda’s reply ignores the question and asks for $2,000 extra.
- Dawn declines, saying she cannot afford it; Rhonda rebukes her for being ungrateful.
- Dawn switches to emailing Mia, recounting her failed attempts with Natalie.
- She details suspicious incidents: turtle cupcakes possibly thrown away, incorrect meeting times, and Seth’s unwillingness to intervene.
- Dawn describes reading an online article about likability techniques (smiling, head tilting, eye contact, flattery).
- She asks Mia if she can visit, but Mia says now is not a good time.
Character Development
Dawn Schiff shows increasing desperation. She tries to improve her social standing through research and self-help, but her mother’s toxic response reinforces her isolation. Dawn’s compulsion to send money to her mother reveals a strained family dynamic. Her discomfort with eye contact and body language highlights her social anxiety. Rhonda Schiff is portrayed as emotionally manipulative and financially demanding, prioritizing her own needs over her daughter’s emotional well-being. Mia Hodge serves as a supportive but distant confidante; she offers sympathy but remains unavailable, underscoring Dawn’s loneliness.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Toxic family dynamics: Rhonda’s manipulative demands and lack of empathy illustrate how family can be a source of stress rather than support.
- Social anxiety and masking: Dawn’s struggle with eye contact and natural conversation shows the effort required for her to “perform” likability.
- The motif of food: Turtle cupcakes (already a symbol from earlier chapters) reappear as a point of conflict; Dawn’s yellow Spanish rice represents her rigid, compulsive routines.
- Online research as a coping mechanism: Dawn turns to internet articles for social guidance, reflecting her lack of trustworthy human advisors.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens readers’ understanding of Dawn’s background. It explains why she has few allies and clarifies her motivations for trying to befriend Natalie. The flashback also foreshadows the financial and emotional strain in her life, making her later actions more understandable. The contrast between Rhonda’s cruelty and Mia’s kindness (though distant) highlights Dawn’s limited support system.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Dawn email her mother, and what is Rhonda’s response?
Dawn seeks advice on making a female coworker like her. Rhonda ignores the request, tells Dawn not to bother, and demands an extra $2,000. When Dawn refuses, Rhonda accuses her of being ungrateful.
2. What specific strategies does Dawn learn from the online article, and why are they challenging for her?
The article suggests smiling, tilting the head, making eye contact, touching to build bonds, asking about the other person, and flattery. Dawn finds these difficult because she has trouble with eye contact and natural social interaction.
3. How does Dawn’s relationship with her mother compare to her relationship with Mia?
Dawn’s mother is dismissive and financially exploitative, while Mia is supportive but geographically and emotionally distant. Both relationships leave Dawn without immediate, reliable help.