Chapter 5 Summary

Ben sits on a garbage can outside one of the buildings. It is early morning and he opens his brown bag with his "morning sun," a cheap red wine. It is a cold morning and Ben does not want to freeze to death; his wine provides more than just warmth.

Eugene, a young man, comes over to visit and tells him the funeral is that day, asking if Ben is planning to attend. Ben excuses he does not have the clothes to wear and it will be too sad because the funeral is for a baby. Eugene tells him he is going because people expect it since she was his child. He tells Ben he tried to visit Ciel in the hospital after the death. He grouses that Mattie "that fat black bitch" was there and made him feel like a germ or...