Chapter 5 Summary

Cal makes arrangements for Ruth's trip to Concord, but does not find her at 6 AM, for she has fled in a panic to Rhonda's, where Rhonda has for hours been painting her kitchen, assisted by her drunken sisters, unmarried Gloria and Kitty, who is married to Ruth's Uncle Len, but is being threatened with eviction because of her drunkenness. Rhonda is happy to take her in. Kitty laughs hysterically at everything. They are using garish lime green marine paint left over from Ira's buoy painting. Robin's wife Opal brings in their enormous baby, Eddie. They live upstairs. Kitty accuses Ruth of being away so much that she is a tourist, but Rhonda defends her, saying that she had been banished to school by Lanford. Ruth talks about the boredom of school.

Cal interrupts the playful fight, complaining that they are late. Cal and...