A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Chapter 48 Summary & Analysis

On April 6, 1917, the United States goes to war. Francie makes a little time capsule of this moment by sealing a lock of her hair in a square of paper, which bear the marks of her fingerprints and lipstick, in an envelope. She prays to God for every moment of her life to matter. Francie puts her head down on her desk and weeps. One of the other readers asks her if she has a brother or a sweetheart. When she confirms that she has a brother, the reader offers her sympathies. That evening, Francie tells Katie and Neeley how a German spy was caught in her office. Business is also spoiled by houses holding off on important publications and research workers canceling their accounts in anticipation of being drafted. The government, anticipating a man shortage, opens the civil service to women and many of the file clerks apply and are accepted.

Soon, Francie, Miss Armstrong, and the boss are the only ones reading papers. Then, Francie is laid off when the boss decides to close the Bureau. The boss promises Francie her last week’s salary, but she doesn’t expect to receive it. Her next job is at the Communications Corporation in downtown New York, working as a teletype operator. Despite Francie having another job, Katie begins to worry. The war has sent the prices of goods skyrocketing. The family’s dependence on Francie’s wages will prevent her from going to college. However, Francie likes her work, and the household adjusts itself to her new schedule. She leaves home at four in the afternoon and gets home a little before two in the morning. She sleeps until 11:00 AM. Francie works Sunday nights, but she has Wednesdays off. The arrangement cures her of her lonely evenings. It also gives her a few hours to spend in the park with Laurie.

When the subject of high school comes up, Francie says that she refuses to go. Now, Katie protests, but Francie fears that she’ll be too old when she finally graduates and gets through college. Then, Francie has the idea of taking some college courses during the day. She signs up for three afternoon classes with Brooklyn’s “oldest and most reputable college.” Francie figures she can take the classes as a non-degree seeking student. Her plan works and the cashier accepts her money for tuition. When it is time to buy her books, she balks at the choice between new and secondhand texts until a “tall and good-looking” young man behind her suggests that she buy them second-hand to save money. She thanks him and watches him leave. On the way home, she clutches her books, hardly able to believe that she is in college.