Oscar and the Lady in Pink

Oscar’s fourth letter, dated December 21, represents Oscar’s twenties and opens with news that he’s married Peggy. He discovers that it’s his friend Bacon, not Peggy, who cries at night. Peggy invites Oscar to sleep next to her, and he happily agrees, although he is reprimanded for it the next morning.

Granny Rose takes Oscar to visit the hospital chapel, where he is shocked at the sight of the crucifix. He can’t believe Jesus is depicted as bleeding and suffering. Granny Rose lightens the mood with another wrestling anecdote. The story’s message is that the thought of dying is worse than death itself for most people, but those with faith in God have an advantage. She explains that “people are frightened of dying because they’re afraid of the unknown” (53), but those who have faith can endure suffering because they feel no moral pain. 

Oscar finishes his day spending time with Peggy, this time under close supervision. Oscar closes his fourth letter asking God to “arrange for Peggy Blue’s operation to go well tomorrow” but quickly corrects himself, acknowledging that “operations aren’t mind things, it may not be one of your lines” (55). 

Oscar’s fifth letter spans his thirties, which he summarizes as “a tough time” full of nothing but “worry and responsibility” (56). Oscar’s worry is broken momentarily when he realizes that Granny Rose might also have her own worries and problems. He wonders how he might help her, especially if he doesn’t know what her life’s problems are, and he offers to adopt her. He’s already adopted his old teddy bear, he explains, when his parents tried to replace it with a new one.

Oscar and Granny Rose leave chocolates and flowers in Peggy’s hospital room for her post-surgery recovery, then Oscar takes one of his increasingly frequent naps. He visits Peggy after his nap and meets her parents. Peggy’s operation is successful, and Oscar reflects that the day has been a good day. He ends his letter with no request for God.

Oscar’s sixth letter summarizes his forties as nothing but stupid mistakes. Peggy is recovering well from her surgery, but she learns about Oscar kissing the other girl. Oscar argues his side of the story: “with Cleopatra, it had been a mistake when I was very young, way before her [Peggy’s] time, and she couldn’t make me pay for my past all my life” (61). Peggy threatens to end things with Oscar, and she makes friends with Cleopatra to spite him. Oscar retaliates by letting a third girl kiss him, which results in the whole floor calling him a womanizer. Granny Rose assures Oscar that his behavior and confusion are perfectly normal for someone in his forties and encourages him to talk to Peggy.

Oscar realizes that tomorrow is Christmas, meaning it is God’s birthday. He closes his letter asking God to make things right with Peggy, then in an afterthought asks, “Now that we’re friends, what would you like me to give you for your birthday?” (63)

The next day, Oscar and Peggy make up. Oscar escapes from the hospital by stowing away in Granny Rose’s car. She discovers him later that evening and warms him by her fireplace while they wait for his parents to arrive. She asks why Oscar resents his parents so much, and he explains that their fear and avoidance make him feel like a monster. Granny Rose points out that Oscar’s parents will die too someday, but they’ll have to live with the remorse of never making up with him.

When Oscar’s parents arrive at Granny Rose’s home to collect him, they stay to celebrate Christmas together. Oscar apologizes for not considering that they will die one day, and their relationship is mended: “I don’t know what it unlocked inside them, that sentence, but after that they were just like before and we had a brilliant Christmas” (71). They watch a recorded wrestling match together before Oscar falls asleep, tucked into the bed of Granny Rose’s eldest son. Oscar ends his letter wishing that his parents will always be in the high spirits they felt this evening.