Chapter 5, Part 1 Summary

The prologue to this chapter refers poetically to the fluidity of time, the way a moment in the present can bring back powerful and immediate sensations of the past.

The chapter begins with brief references to the glimpsed fearfulnesses of Indian Jenny's father, Simone the prostitute, the manager of the movie theatre, Evenwrite, and a dog named Molly. A brief poetic reference, similar in tone to the prologue, refers again to the power of memory, transitioning into a present tense narration of Joe-Ben recalling his childhood and the stories he heard Hank and his father tell around the fire. More transitional references to the theatre manager and Indian Jenny's father lead into first person narration from Lee's point of view about the almost playful and friendly conversation he has with Hank about Viv and her many good points. This narration also...