Summary

Chapter 5 recounts the story of the childhoods of the brothers in the more distant past, and, on the more recent timeline, describes Carey's increasing successes as a jockey. Penny, as a young parent, clings to her own upbringing when rearing her children, and insists from an early age that they should all learn to play the piano. She teaches them patiently, despite their great reluctance to learn. Matthew also recalls that there were many fights amongst the brothers when they were young, and frequent family arguments (266); the piano is at the center of many of these disputes.

At school one day, Matthew is accused of being a "homosexual" because he plays the piano (283); this begins a period in which he is frequently bullied. Matthew lashes out at his parents for forcing him to play, and Michael discovers that his son is being bullied. Rather...