Chapter summaries The Impossible Fortune Richard Osman

The Impossible Fortune Chapter 9: A Brutal Flashback and a Grandson's Distraction

⚠️ 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

Ron lies hungover on his bathroom floor after a wedding, tended by his friends Ibrahim and Pauline. While groaning in pain, he flashes back to a 1970s picket-line incident in the West Midlands, where he deliberately provoked a police officer into striking him with a truncheon. The beating escalated when three officers dragged him into a van, kicked him, and left him in a ditch with broken ribs and severe bruising. In the present, Ron’s grandson Kendrick arrives with Jason, forcing Ron to muster strength, get off the floor, and pretend he was listening for trains beneath the tiles. The chapter ends with Ron agreeing to play Lego, putting on a brave face for the child.

Key Events

  • Ron recalls a 1970s picket-line confrontation in the West Midlands.
  • He goaded a police officer into hitting him with a truncheon for a photograph; when the officer followed with more blows, Ron fell.
  • The officer then smashed the photographer’s camera and struck the photographer.
  • Three officers dragged Ron to a van, striking his knees, then drove him to a country lane where they kicked him and left him in a ditch.
  • Present day: Ron is hungover on his bathroom floor; Ibrahim holds a cold flannel to his neck.
  • Pauline cooks breakfast and jokes that she bet on Ron not surviving the night.
  • Jason arrives with Kendrick, Ron’s energetic grandson.
  • Kendrick’s sudden appearance forces Ron to sit up, claim he was listening for trains, and agree to play Lego.

Character Development

  • Ron Ritchie: The flashback reveals Ron’s physical toughness and willingness to endure pain for a cause. In the present, his hangover shows vulnerability, but Kendrick’s arrival proves his love for family outweighs personal discomfort. He is willing to mask his suffering for his grandson.
  • Ibrahim: He is sober, caring, and practical. He declines late-night Jägerbombs and gently helps Ron by pulling up his trousers and offering a cold flannel. His calmness contrasts with Ron’s chaos.
  • Pauline: She joins in the wedding fun (taking Jägerbombs) and cooks breakfast. Her playful bet on Ron’s survival shows her dry humor and deep friendship.
  • Jason: He brings Kendrick to Ron’s flat, but the reason remains unexplored, hinting at a possible subplot.
  • Kendrick: The grandson is energetic, loving, and unaware of Ron’s state. He demands attention and re-energizes Ron, highlighting the generational bond.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Pain and endurance: Ron compares his hangover agony to the police beating, emphasizing his lifelong capacity to bear physical hardship.
  • Memory and the past: The 1970s incident intrudes into the present as Ron lies helpless on the floor, showing how past trauma can surface during vulnerability.
  • Family bonds over self-pity: Kendrick’s arrival forces Ron out of his misery; the need to be a good grandfather overrides personal collapse.
  • Comradeship: Ibrahim and Pauline care for Ron without judgment, demonstrating loyalty and humour in their friendship.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Ron’s backstory, revealing a violent past that shaped his resilience and his attitude toward authority. It also humanises him by showing his tenderness with Kendrick, setting up potential future plot threads involving Jason and the grandson. The mix of brutal flashback and domestic comedy exemplifies Osman’s signature tone—balancing pain, humour, and heart.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Ron recall the picket-line incident while hungover?
    The physical pain and helplessness of his hangover—lying on the bathroom floor—trigger a memory of a similar state of agony when he was beaten and left in a muddy ditch. The parallel between past and present misery makes the memory surface.

  2. How does the arrival of Kendrick change Ron’s behaviour?
    Despite being barely able to move, Ron forces himself to sit up, smile, and invent a story about hearing trains on the floor to amuse his grandson. His love for Kendrick overrides his own discomfort, showing his devotion to family.

  3. What does this chapter reveal about the relationship between Ron, Ibrahim, and Pauline?
    They are close, loyal friends who care for each other in times of need. Ibrahim and Pauline tend to Ron without scolding, even joking about his condition, which shows their acceptance and deep bond. Ron recognises his luck in having them.

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