Summary

Chapter 5: The narrative describes Veblen’s childhood, living with her mother and stepfather most of the year, but spending two weeks each summer at her father’s house for a court-appointed visit. Her parents are divorced. Her father, Rudgear Amundsen-Hovda, was a veteran of the Vietnam War and was later diagnosed with severe PTSD, accounting for his bizarre and erratic behavior. The chapter includes a series of letters between Veblen’s mother and father. In his letters, Veblen’s father complains that Veblen acts strangely and is otherwise too reserved. He blames Melanie for this. In her replies, Melanie says that Veblen is fine at home, but her visits to Rudgear make Veblen nervous. Melanie accuses Rudgear of being unfit to take care of Veblen for any period of time.

Chapter 6: The narrative returns to the day after Veblen and Paul visited Melanie...