Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary

It may be the Whiting family that is most noted for its peculiarities in Empire Falls, but the Roby clan has a few loose tethers to reality as well. Miles' father, Max, is a character of the lowest order; one of those fellows with no obvious redeeming social values, but who manages to entertain nonetheless. Seeing his father sitting on a park bench on his way to work at the Empire Grill, Miles picks him up with an invitation for coffee and a doughnut at the Doughnut Shop. This is Max's favorite establishment, outside of the local taverns, of course, because of the smoking policy. That policy is that anyone can light up any time anywhere in the establishment without regard to those around him; and Max seems to be one of those persons "...who took particular pleasure...in knowing that...