If Only Chapter 31 Summary

The Chair

  • In group, the kids introduce empty chairs as their loved ones who died, then they cover them with Post-Its with memories of the person.
  • It's really hard for Corinna, and she has to leave the room for a minute before her turn, but she gets through it.
  • In her non-grieving life, she really needs new clothes. Everything she owns is too tight or too short, but whenever she asks her dad to take her shopping, he says he'll do it later.
  • Corinna makes pumpkin muffins using Sophie's recipe and takes one to Miss Beatty. She asks how Ms. Beatty's mom died and Ms. Beatty tells her that she had multiple sclerosis.
  • They have a band concert, and Corinna actually plays okay and manages not to embarrass herself in front of Alex. She has to wear black pants, and the only ones she has that fit are yoga pants.
  • Mrs. Simmons comes to the concert to see her grandson play. She insinuates that Corinna might like to go to the Valentine's Day dance with him—Corinna, to be clear, most certainly would not.
  • On the drive home, her dad says her mom would have loved to see her play. Corinna doesn't answer.