Chapter 5 Summary: Pancakes, Party Prep, and a New Ambassador

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The morning after the blanket party, Daunis wakes up on the sofa with her twin cousins, Perry and Pauline. She makes them their favorite pancakes while listening to their dreams: Perry dreamed of being a jewel thief, and Pauline dreamed a mysterious boy told her she was a princess. Daunis gently reminds Pauline she doesn't need a boy to be a princess.

Daunis notices Auntie Teddie arrived home safely during the night, but senses something bigger than the blanket party happened. Auntie avoids eye contact and only makes small talk until Daunis leaves. When saying goodbye, Auntie hugs Daunis tightly and whispers, "Ninde gidayan" — "You have my heart." Daunis feels like crying, wondering if the blanket party created a new mess instead of solving a problem.

Later that afternoon, Daunis and Lily move valuables from the big house to the library to protect them during the party. Daunis tells Lily about the blanket party, and Lily wonders who the victim might have been. Levi arrives with the beer keg, and Daunis thanks him, but Lily is clearly angry that Levi and his hockey friends are hijacking what was supposed to be an intimate celebration.

Daunis and Lily raid the liquor cabinet, drinking grappa and Frangelico. Lily expresses frustration that Levi makes everything about himself. Daunis defends Levi, noting she needed him to buy the keg since she's not of legal drinking age in Canada. Lily teases Daunis about inviting Jamie Johnson, but Daunis insists Jamie has a girlfriend and Levi invited him.

During the party, Daunis counts twenty-four people. Jamie approaches her, and she offers him grappa. She gives him and a tagalong girl a tour of the house, showing the hidden attic door and her senior portrait next to her mother's and uncle's portraits. Daunis notes how unrecognizable they became compared to their hopeful younger selves. The girl finds Daunis weird, but Jamie seems amused.

Levi joins them upstairs and asks Daunis to be Jamie's "Supe ambassador" — a guide to the town. Daunis protests, but Levi argues no one will mess with her because she's a badass like Aunt Teddie. Flattered and warmed by the grappa, Daunis agrees.

Key Events

Daunis spends the morning with the twins, making pancakes and hearing their dreams.
Auntie Teddie shows unusual remorse, hugging Daunis tightly and avoiding conversation about the previous night.
Daunis and Lily prepare for the party by securing valuables and setting up the keg.
Lily confronts Daunis about Levi's involvement and Daunis's invitation to Jamie.
Daunis drinks grappa and gives Jamie and another girl a tour of the big house.
Daunis agrees to become Jamie's ambassador after Levi's request.

Character Development

Daunis Fontaine: Feels hurt by Auntie's dismissal but pushes it away; later wonders if the blanket party created new problems. She struggles with her loyalty to both Lily and Levi, and her need for acceptance from her brother leads her to agree to a role she initially resisted.
Lily Chippeway: Protective of Daunis and annoyed by Levi's takeover. She calls out Daunis's defensiveness regarding Jamie and pushes back against "Hockey World" dominating their celebration.
Levi Firekeeper: Manipulative but charming — he deftly wins Daunis over by calling her a "total badass" like Aunt Teddie, even after Lily criticizes him.
Auntie Teddie: Uncharacteristically remorseful; her long embrace and whispered words suggest guilt or regret unrelated to the blanket party alone.
Jamie Johnson: Observant, polite, and speaks French. He teases Daunis gently and seems genuinely interested in her knowledge of the town.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Family Obligation: Daunis feels torn between Auntie's distant behavior, Lily's frustration, and Levi's demands. The "help-up" with Jamie places Daunis in a role she didn't seek but feels compelled to accept.
Alcohol as Escape: Daunis drinks grappa repeatedly throughout the chapter, using it to dull her worries about the blanket party, her family's tension, and her uncertain place between worlds.
Portraits and Unrecognizable Selves: The senior portraits on the wall — Daunis's, her mother's, and Uncle David's — symbolize how people can become unrecognizable to themselves over time, hinting at hidden identities and future transformations.
"Anglerfish" Metaphor: Daunis uses the term "anglerfish" for the hockey girlfriends who latch onto players, reflecting her disdain for the parasitic dynamics within Hockey World.
Cultural Tension: Daunis navigates between her Nishnaab heritage (pancakes with maple syrup from Sugar Bush, the word "Aho") and the predominantly white hockey culture that Levi represents.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 5 deepens the emotional fallout from the blanket party and sets up a crucial alliance for Daunis. Auntie's unexplained remorse hints at a larger secret. Daunis's agreement to become Jamie's ambassador formally links her to him, a pairing that will likely shape the investigation and her personal journey. The chapter also showcases Daunis's divided loyalties — to Lily, Levi, Auntie, and her own desires — as she tries to live a "nice life" while being pulled into deeper complications.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Daunis agree to be Jamie's ambassador despite initial reluctance? Daunis agrees because Levi appeals to her pride, calling her a "total badass" and comparing her to Aunt Teddie. Flattered and slightly drunk on grappa, she enjoys the positive attention from Jamie and overlooks her earlier reservations.

2. What does Lily's frustration with Levi reveal about their relationship and Daunis's position? Lily sees Levi as controlling and self-centered, taking over celebrations that should be about Daunis. This tension highlights Daunis's struggle to balance her loyalty to her brother with her friendship with Lily, who wants Daunis to resist Levi's influence.

3. How do the portraits on the wall connect to the chapter's themes? Daunis comments that the people in the portraits "will be unrecognizable soon, even to themselves." This foreshadows that characters — including Daunis herself — may undergo changes that alter their identities, hinting at secrets and transformations to come.