Chapter Five, Hunger Summary

Hannah Coultner is preparing her children, Mattie and Margaret, for dinner at Mat Feltner's house (the same place Old Jack is going to dinner). She is the widow of Virgil Feltner, who died during World War II, and, though young, is already keenly familiar with death. She married Nathan Coultner and is pregnant with his second child (Mattie is their first). The Coultners' life is a kind of a work-in-progress and Hannah looks around at their property, seeing all their plans gradually come to fruition as time and money allow. Hannah packs the kids into their truck and drives to Mat's house. They are greeted by Margaret.

The meal is prepared quickly and while the children eat, Hannah goes out to find Old Jack, who has not yet showed up. After some searching, she finds him at the barbershop...