Chapter 2 Summary

Winnie and Helen have left early to decorate the funeral parlor when Phil has second thoughts about taking the girls. Pearl reassures him, saying it will be a closed-casket service.

As they enter the funeral parlor, Pearl and Phil are given black armbands to wear. Pearl feels guilty pretending to be grieved and tries to remember Auntie Du. She cannot come up with much, only that she smelled like mothballs and kept old Chinese candy and jerky in dusty tins.

Bao-Bao hands them candy and a red envelope of lucky money, which neither Phil nor Pearl know what to do with. Pearl is amused and horrified to find Uncle Henry videotaping the funeral. They pass a dozen mourners on the way to their seats, looking for familiar faces, until Cleo exclaims, "Daddy, there's a lady sleeping up there! And her dinner's on fire...