Obasan Chapter 39 Summary

  • Naomi hasn't slept all night. It's five in the morning. Obasan hasn't been able to go to sleep either, and instead she keeps looking at Uncle's ID card. For the first time Obasan is emotional. She rocks back and forth like a child.
  • There is grief, Naomi says, but the grief is not forever.
  • Naomi sneaks out of the house. She takes Aunt Emily's jacket with her and goes to Uncle's valley. At the bottom of the valley she looks up at the moon. Naomi remembers Uncle saying that it's just like the sea and watches the wildflowers along the stream. If she holds her head just right, she can smell them.