Chapter 21, Maria Summary

Discharged from the hospital, Oskar misses the nurses and begins to drum furiously. In just a few weeks, he has worn out the drum from the Polish Post Office. Oskar is haunted by the thought that Victor will pursue him. He is not afraid that he will be turned over to the authorities as one of the Polish Post Office traitors. Instead, Oskar fears that Victor will denounce Oskar for betraying his father.

Oskar associates this guilt with the drum from the Post Office, and is determined to wear it out by Christmas Eve. Oskar is confident he will receive a new drum for Christmas. To his dismay, Oskar receives a lavish assortment of gifts, including a rocking swan, a set of blocks and several picture books, but no drum. Infuriated, Oskar demands a drum. When the adults refuse, he lets...