In Lark & Termite, happiness rests in the hands of others. That is characters with fulfilling relationships with others in the novel are able to flourish, be happy, and live well. A relationship, to provide for this happiness, must have the characteristic of complete understanding between the characters.
Lark & Termite are the most fitting example of a relationship with this understanding. Lark know that “Termite does things another way... He remembers the cadences of songs and rhymes, he recognizes sounds, not words” (39). Lark also knows what Termite wants and needs, “the bell on his chai was [her] idea... he presses it twice if he has to go to the bathroom, or a lot if something is wrong” (35). Additionally, Termite spends his days observing Lark he knows her routines and the most secret parts of her life, including her relationship with Solly. Termite knows that Lark “knows he can see if she’s very close but he doesn’t look [if] he doesn’t want her to stay” (60). Termite’s chapters includes anaphora, or the repetition of beginning sentence structures, in that many of his sentences start with what Lark does (59). This relationship, giving the novel its name is certainly the most obvious and the most complex understanding relationship of the novel but it is far from the only relationship of this category in the novel. Lola shares a similar understanding of Termite knowing that he was constantly thinking and “moves his fingers... when he is agitated” (251). She also understands Lark enough to give her something that could be hers, even though many people would view Termite as a burden, Lola rightfully knew that to Lark he would be a gift.
Lola and Leavitt satisfy this quality as well, they have almost a clairvoyant connection as Robert continually senses her presence in Korea and “feels [Termite] turn in the salt and blood” as he falls prey to death (220). “Lola knew, almost by instinct, who he was” (218). Finally by the conclusion of the novel before Lola ends her own life she still senses Robert’s presence and feels that he “would forgive her” (252).
Nonie and Charlie have one of the most peculiar relationships in a novel filled with peculiar relationships. Although the reader rarely sees them in a romantic context, they do in essence share a child (Lark) that Lola intended for them and we know that they are comfortable together and Nonie “loves him still after thirty years” (56). One of the main sources of their mutual understanding lies in the years that they have been together since “when the grass was high enough to hide [them] in Polish Town” (102). Only Charlie and Nonie (and Lola, deceased) can understand the secrets of the past, which serve as an additional bond of shared secrets only they understand. They also seem to be united through Lola who understood them both. Nonie, even comes to understand and forgive Lola by the conclusion of the novel, “surely that’s why [she still cries,] quietly, the way Lola cried” (208).
In an unforeseen romantic relationship, Solly and Lark have one of the strangest understandings that is likened to that between a brother and a sister. “[Solly] is like [her] brother...except he can talk to [her]. [He] can touch [her] back” (182). This, combined with their ongoing sexual understanding, “like [Lark] owns his body, like he would own [hers] if he ever got inside” (185). The same pattern, “the old game,” in which these sexual encounters usual occur allows them to have a rather off kilter and unforeseen romance (184). Nevertheless, they both understand Termite, Solly telling Termite “you’re my boy” (215). “Termite lost Solly too” (180). This shared understanding of Termite, relates Solly and Lark them to the primary understanding relationship of the book: that of Lark & Termite.
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