Chapter 10 Summary

Nick wakes up at his parents' home in Barwick. He attends the local Barwick Fete celebration held in Abbott's Field, a local park. Gerald is the guest speaker. Gerald and Nick spend the day with Don and Dot, Nick's parents. Gerald displays his competitive side when he joins in welly-whanging, which requires throwing a Wellington boot as far as possible. Gerald plays until he wins a pig.

Nick and Gerald later have cocktails at the Guests' home, and his constantly empty glass preoccupies Gerald. Gerald tells the Guests that the Ouradis had an older son who was killed by a lorry in Beirut. Later, when Nick drops Gerald off to make his speech at the Barwick Fete, he realizes that Gerald has left his speech in the car. Nick follows him to give it to Gerald and sees Penny with her hand in...