Summary

In Part 5, “Spring 2094,” Charlie and her new friend, David, began meeting regularly. They visited the storytellers, went on walks, and talked. At first, it was difficult for Charlie to engage. Mostly, she worried about the way David discussed forbidden topics. Despite these concerns, every time Charlie saw him, she got a “strange feeling in [her] stomach” (515). With time, they learned about one another’s lives.

One evening, Charlie and David ran into Charlie’s husband. He seemed unfazed by their friendship. “Over the next nights,” Charlie repeatedly dreamed about kissing David (519). She had never kissed anyone. Her marriage had been arranged. She remembered meeting marriage brokers with Grandfather. The first broker insisted that Charlie was special and finding her a husband would be impossible. Another broker found her current husband. Afterwards, Grandfather explained that he was like him, a homosexual. Therefore, though...