Summary

In Chapter 5 John goes over to Penn's house for dinner to meet his parents. John introduces himself as "Crash" to Mr. and Mrs. Webb. He explains how he got the nickname by crashing into his cousin and knocking her into the snow. As Penn leads him throughout the house, John discovers that Penn has more quirks than he can count. John is startled that Penn does not live in a two-story house and is alarmed that Penn's toys consist of a Conestoga Wagon and a jar of dried mud from the Missouri River that his great-grandfather gave him.

In Chapter 6, John finds out that the Webbs are vegetarians who do not eat any meat. Penn admits that he did not tell John this on purpose because he was afraid John would not come over. John is horrified yet curious at the foods the...