Chapter 40, Klepp Summary

Surreptitiously exiting Sister Dorothea's room, Oskar hears a slight cough from the adjoining room. A few days later, Oskar steams open one of Sister Dorothea's letters from the doctor and reads it. Although phrased decorously, it is a passionate love letter. Resealing the letter and replacing it, Oskar hears a voice from the room adjoining Sister Dorothea's. It is Klepp M'nzer, asking Oskar to fetch him some water.

Klepp is an indolent, corpulent, unwashed jazz clarinetist who rarely leaves his bed. He cooks on a tiny bedside alcohol stove. The two quickly begin a conversation on the most frivolous topics including predestination and the existence of heaven. Klepp serves Oskar a disgusting meal of spaghetti on a greasy plate. Soon, Oskar is drumming Klepp his entire life story while Klepp is creating sweet and unnatural sounds with his clarinet. The two...