Summary

Chapter 5 is titled “A Mess of Bad Puppies.” The church is stuffy until the women begin waving fans to stir the air. O.C. is in his Sunday clothing, including his derby hat. Russell believes he is a handsome man who “could have passed for a judge” (43). Russell and Lloyd picked all white glads for the funeral spray. Russell's entire family is present. His mother died giving birth to Lloyd. O.C. had asked Aunt Maud to marry him, but she claimed to be “nothing but a nervous spinster” and declined. She lives nearby and spends a lot of time at Russell's house. Doc Wilkinson is also present. He takes care of all the ailments in the neighborhood, including accidents and births. The exception is the Tarbox family “who had an annual baby and no way to pay” (44).

A girl about Tansy's age plays...