Chapter Five Summary

Ethan comes home for dinner, and his wife is cooking chicken she bought at another grocery store. Ethan dresses, and his son asks if he can look at the Masonic sword and hat that belonged to Ethan's father and grandfather. Allen asks Ethan how they lost the real estate and the whaling ships. Ethan changes the subject. Allen asks Ethan if he will come to the attic to look at the old books. Ethan thinks of the attic and the wonderful books and being a child and exploring up there. In the attic, Allen wants all the "patriotic jazz" for the essay. Allen says he wishes he were a pirate like his ancestors because he wants money. He says he is the only kid in town with no motorbike.

When Allen goes downstairs to read the paper, he tells his wife...