The Prickly Pair: A Symbol of Spiky Affection and Sweet Growth
What Is The Prickly Pair?
In Till Summer Do Us Part, The Prickly Pair is a cocktail—a prickly-pear margarita—created by Scottie Price and Wilder during a couples‑camp mixology challenge. The drink uses tequila, triple sec, lime juice, sweet‑and‑sour mix, crushed strawberries, and prickly‑pear flavoring. The name is a deliberate homophone: “prickly pair” (two people who are spiky with each other) spelled p‑a‑i‑r to emphasize the couple. It wins first prize, earning the pair a secluded lakeside setup equipped with wine, chocolates, and sex toys.
Where Does the Symbol Recur?
Unlike a motif that appears in many scenes, The Prickly Pair appears only once, in Chapter 25. However, its symbolic weight reverberates through the rest of the story. After winning, Wilder jokes about Scottie being “the prickly pear in this relationship,” and she echoes the idea when she says they “might have been prickly when we got here, but I think we’re finding the sweet now.” The phrase resurfaces implicitly in later chapters when the couple navigates honesty and vulnerability—for instance, during the Central Park paddleboat scene (Chapter 31) where Wilder confesses his love, and in the epilogue where they plan their future. The symbol thus acts as a fixed point that the narrative constantly revisits in spirit.
How Its Meaning Changes
Initial meaning – Spiky incompatibility: At the start of camp, Scottie and Wilder are pretending to be married but frequently bicker. Their early therapy sessions bristle with invented arguments (e.g., the “Serial Zipper” story). The prickly pear represents the defensive, sharp edges each character shows the world: Scottie’s fear of vulnerability after her divorce, and Wilder’s avoidance of emotional depth following his father’s death.
Transformation – Complementary sweetness: The act of collaborating on the drink becomes a turning point. Wilder suggests prickly pear because “our relationship has been prickly,” and Scottie adds sweet‑and‑sour mix because they are “sweet and sour.” The final product is a balanced, crowd‑pleasing cocktail that wins the competition. This mirrors how their fighting gives way to genuine affection and teamwork. The sweet note (the strawberry purée and prickly‑pear nectar) softens the initial bitterness.
Final resonance – Self‑acceptance and partnership: By the epilogue, the term “prickly pair” has been reclaimed as an affectionate nickname. The couple no longer needs to perform prickliness; they have internalized the lesson that a relationship can be both spiky and tender. The symbol thus evolves from a mask of conflict into a badge of their unique, complementary bond.
Connections to Characters and Themes
Character – Scottie Price: The symbolism of the prickly pear aligns with Scottie’s arc from self‑doubt to confidence. In the prologue she declares she is falling in love with herself, yet she still lies about having a husband. The drink competition forces her to own her prickly side (her defensiveness) and her sweet side (her capacity for joy). When she jokes during the victory speech about their first date, it shows she no longer feels the need to hide.
Character – Wilder: Wilder’s improv background and “yes, and” philosophy (explained later) mirror the drink’s composition: he takes whatever Scottie offers and adds a complementary element. The prickly pear becomes an emblem of his ability to turn conflict into connection.
Theme – Self‑love and reinvention: The drink’s creation is a microcosm of Scottie’s transformation. She stops pretending to be perfect (no salt rim, no over‑complicated recipe) and embraces a honest blend of her traits. The prize—a sex‑toy‑filled romantic setup—rewarding her willingness to be open.
Theme – Deception and authenticity: The Prickly Pair is born from a lie (the fake marriage) but the cocktail itself is utterly authentic. This tension between performance and real feeling mirrors the central conflict: the couple can only create something true after they stop acting.
Theme – Communication and vulnerability: The recipe requires them to talk through each ingredient, just as therapy pushes them to air grievances. Wilder’s victory speech thanks his brother Mika, revealing that he values honest instruction—a step away from his usual sarcasm.
Theme – Commitment and trust: Winning the competition earns them physical intimacy (skinny‑dipping, lake sex), which becomes the foundation for real commitment. The symbol, therefore, marks the moment they begin to trust each other with their true selves.
Four Study Questions with Answers
1. How does the drink’s name, “The Prickly Pair,” foreshadow the couple’s dynamic before they fully acknowledge it?
The name literally means “a pair that is prickly”—both spiky and pointed. At camp, Scottie and Wilder pretend to be a dysfunctional married couple, and their bickering is sharp and defensive. Yet the drink also contains sweetness (prickly pear itself is sweet, and they add strawberry purée). This duality foreshadows that beneath their surface conflict lies genuine affection and compatibility. The pun forces them to see themselves as a unit, not just two actors.
2. What does the victory speech reveal about Wilder’s and Scottie’s respective growth?
Wilder’s speech credits his brother Mika, showing he has moved from solo improviser to someone who acknowledges help. Scottie’s speech references their very first date (the improvised Coney Island subway ride), indicating she now cherishes that memory rather than dismissing it as part of the lie. Both speeches are spontaneous and confident—a marked change from their earlier anxiety about being caught in the hoax.
3. Why does the author choose a prickly‑pear margarita over a generic cocktail?
Prickly pear is an unusual fruit that is both spiny on the outside and sweet on the inside. This perfectly mirrors Scottie and Wilder’s relationship: their prickly exteriors (Scottie’s guardedness, Wilder’s sarcasm) give way to a sweet, surprising bond. The margarita element ties back to their real first date (margaritas and the subway ride), grounding the symbol in their shared history. Generic cocktails would lack that layered texture.
4. How does the prize (the lakeside setup) change the meaning of the symbol?
The prize—wine, chocolates, and sex toys—transforms the drink from a mere competition entry into a catalyst for physical and emotional intimacy. After winning, they have sex in the lake and discuss Wilder’s “yes, and” philosophy. The symbol now stands not just for being a cute couple, but for taking risks and embracing pleasure without shame. The prickly pear margarita becomes the gateway to their first honest, non‑performative act of love.