Summary

In Chapter 11 the mother compares songs to people: there are many, they come and go, and there are many we never encounter. She and Nikolai once again debate parts of speech, and that the word stupid, with its Latin root meaning astonished, is being misused in modern discourse. They invent sentences to correct this mistake. The mother recalls memories of a kayak outing just before Nikolai turns sixteen, skips back to when Nikolai cut his toe on a rock at three, and notes a parent should never be a child’s biographer due to sentimentality. The mother believes one can put one’s trust in nouns; they are solid. Nikolai remarks that music can be perfect, and this reminds him that he could not perfect himself in this imperfect life.

It is Christmas, and in Chapter 12 the family buys a tiny live Christmas...