Chapters 5-6 Summary

During dinner one evening, Margot points out that the water in Thomas's aquarium had turned red, like the Nile River in Father's Bible readings. Father suspects that it is a trick performed by Thomas and insists that it should be ignored and that the fish should die. After dinner, Mother and Thomas sneak into the living room and use a hose to siphon the water out of the aquarium, but Father confronts them. He slaps Mother and she fights back, punching him in the arms. But she loses the fight and crumples to the floor, crying and bleeding.

At that moment, the door bell rings. Father sends Mother upstairs, and answers the door. Mrs. van Amersfoort steps inside and asks to borrow a cup of sugar. Father nervously gets her sugar, and she asks about his wife. Then she says hello...