57 pages • 1 hour read
One Plus One: A Novel
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Chapters 9-15Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, bullying, physical abuse, emotional abuse, substance use, and anti-gay bias.
Chapter 9 Summary: “Tanzie”
The novel flashes back to Tanzie visiting Nicky in the hospital; she is distressed by his swollen face. She decides not to tell him about the upcoming Math Olympiad in Scotland since she doesn’t want to distress him further. Jess arrives, and the children hear her arguing with the hospital staff, insisting she is Nicky’s guardian even though they aren’t related by blood.
Back at their house, Jess gives Nicky his medication and busies herself with packing suitcases. She then announces that they are driving to Scotland immediately in their old Rolls-Royce so Tanzie can attend the Math Olympiad. The car is already packed, and their dog, Norman, is inside. Before leaving, Jess pins a note on their door addressed to the Fisher family, warning them against breaking in. The journey begins, but Jess’s poor driving gets them lost. As they try to find their way, Nicky reveals that he has brought marijuana with him just as a police car signals them to pull over.
Chapter 10 Summary: “Jess”
On the side of the motorway, police officers inform Jess that the Rolls-Royce is uninsured and has a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), making it illegal to drive. As they charge her with a potential £5,000 fine, Ed pulls over and offers assistance.
