Chapter 25, 165 lbs. Summary

Oskar seeks physical solace with Lina Greff. The greengrocer's wife is ailing, and spends most of her time in bed. She seldom washes, and is grossly overweight. Distraught, Oskar visits the apartment above the greengrocers and climbs into bed with Lina. Soon, he is making love to her each day while she lies passive. Before Oskar arises from the bed, Greff brings a basin of hot water so that Oskar can wash Lina's stench from himself.

Greff has sunk into despair. The scout troop is dispersed, and youths no longer visit him. Greff's favorite Boy Scout, Horst Donath, has been killed in the fighting. Greff begins to neglect his appearance and devotes himself to inventing new contraptions. Shortly after Oskar's eighteenth birthday, Greff invents a marvelous drumming machine. It consists of two scales. When a potato is removed from one scale...