Summary

Chapter 5 opens with Iris holding a letter from her parents, containing money and a picture of Melody. Iris left her family to go to college, but when she sees the picture of Melody she misses her daughter. She thinks about how much Melody talks about her father so much: "Always the phone calls were Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" (55). As Iris ponders over how she is not very maternal, a voice asked whether the photo is of her sister. The girl introduces herself by remarking about Iris's contribution to their American literature class. She introduces herself as Jamison as she rolls a cigarette. Iris asks to try a cigarette. The girls talk about where they are from as Iris examines Jamison's perfect skin. When the question of whether she is a first generation student is asked, Iris responds in the negative and reflects on how...