Chapter 5 Summary

In chapter five, John drives to the Woodmoore house to have dinner with Marion's parents. He marvels privately that these people who once despised him now love having him over for meals. On his way, John picks up a pack of cigarettes. He doesn't smoke, but he knows that Mr. Woodmoore likes to borrow cigarettes. John recalls when he went to the nursery to see Franklin for the first time and Mrs. Woodmoore grabbed him by the throat in unvarnished rage. Now, Marion's mother tells the story as a joke. These days, they do everything they can to convince Marion to take John back.

It is raining when John arrives at the Woodmoores' with flowers. Mrs. Woodmoore welcomes him in, where Marion's sister Ruth is waiting. Ruth has fallen on hard times in Detroit and moved back to Memphis to get back on...