Chapter 16 (Chapter 6): Unpacking and a Scream

⚠️ 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

At lunch, Abigail eats ravenously from the buffet, stuffing grapes and cookies into her cheeks. Frankie makes a crude joke comparing her to a hamster, which angers Tammy. She accuses Frankie of being a jerk and reminds him that Abigail has struggled with food insecurity. Abigail rushes to the bathroom and vomits; Frankie watches unhelpfully while Tammy tends to her. Frankie privately admits Tammy is right—he doesn't know why he feels so irritable, though he suspects his unease about the camp may be partly to blame.

After lunch, moods improve when the group unpacks. Frankie is astonished by his enormous master suite with a king bed, private bathroom, enormous television, streaming services, and a balcony overlooking Lake Wyndham. Tammy has an identical suite next door, and Abigail's small room is decorated with a nautical theme—colorful fish wallpaper and bunk beds painted like sailboats. Abigail is thrilled to have her choice of bunk, having expected to sleep on the floor.

Frankie unpacks quickly, changes clothes to look less like a landscaper, and finds a wedding weekend schedule on the writing desk. The itinerary runs from Thursday arrival through Saturday evening. Frankie feels too anxious to explore or nap and doesn't want to meet Errol and Catherine Gardner without Maggie present. Instead, he sits at the desk and works on his toast for Maggie. He has cut it to two pages but keeps rewriting the same sentimental lines, feeling they come out cheesy and false. Remembering that Vicky's son is a writer, he calls her salon. Vicky agrees to read the toast and give honest feedback, promising to call the next morning. She sounds distracted because a toddler is waiting in her chair. Frankie texts her the entire toast, then feels relieved. Suddenly, Abigail screams.

Key Events

Abigail overeats at the lunch buffet and later vomits.
Frankie makes insensitive comments, prompting Tammy to scold him.
The family unpacks in their assigned rooms; Frankie is impressed by his suite.
Frankie discovers the schedule for the wedding weekend.
Feeling anxious about meeting the Gardners, Frankie works on revising his father-of-the-bride toast.
He calls Vicky, his former hairdresser, to ask for editing advice.
Vicky agrees to review the toast and gives feedback; Frankie texts it to her.
The chapter ends with a sudden scream from Abigail.

Character Development

Frankie Szabo shows self-awareness but also defensiveness. He admits to being a jerk and wonders about his irritability, yet he doesn't apologize to Tammy or check on Abigail. His anxiety about the wedding and meeting the Gardners surfaces in his obsessive revision of the toast, revealing deep insecurity about his role as a father and his class status.
Tammy Szabo emerges as a protective caregiver. She corrects Frankie calmly and pushes back against his callous remarks, demonstrating her commitment to Abigail's well-being and her frustration with Frankie's behavior.
Abigail Szabo remains a source of concern. Her eating habits hint at ongoing food insecurity, and Tammy's knowledge of her history suggests a backstory of neglect or scarcity. Abigail's wonder at having a choice of bunk underscores how foreign privilege is to her.
Vicky (though not present) is portrayed as generous and practical—willing to help Frankie despite being busy. This moment also shows Frankie reaching out for support, a rare act for him.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Class Anxiety and Imposter Syndrome: Frankie's dismay at his own suite and his nervousness about meeting the Gardners reflect his discomfort in the wealthy setting. His toast revision is a literal attempt to craft a version of himself that will be accepted by the elite crowd.
Parenting and Protection: Tammy's direct intervention with Abigail contrasts with Frankie's passive mockery. The incident highlights different approaches to care—one proactive and empathetic, the other detached and critical.
Food as a Marker of Scarcity and Abundance: Abigail's compulsive eating and the lavish buffet symbolize the clash between her experience of lack and the camp's opulence.
Writing as Performance: Frankie's struggle with the toast emphasizes how public speech forces him to articulate emotions he can't easily express, revealing his fear of inadequacy as a father and a speaker.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the family dynamics, setting up a contrast between Frankie's prickly attitude and Tammy's steadiness. It also introduces a practical plot point—Frankie's call to Vicky—that may later provide him with guidance or reveal crucial information. The chapter ends on a sharp cliffhanger (Abigail's scream), which propels the narrative forward and raises stakes for the wedding weekend. Additionally, Frankie's discomfort with the Gardners and his repeated rewriting of the toast hint at a tension that will likely play out during the ceremony.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Frankie decide to call Vicky for help with his toast?
Frankie is stuck revising the same sentimental lines that feel fake to him. He remembers that Vicky reads a lot and that her son is a professional writer, so he reaches out to her for honest, practical feedback. The call represents a rare moment of vulnerability for Frankie.
What does the lunch episode reveal about the family's dynamics?
Tammy positions herself as the responsible caretaker, attentive to Abigail's history of food insecurity. Frankie responds with sarcasm, which distances him emotionally. The incident shows a rift in their co-parenting style: Tammy acts with compassion, while Frankie reacts with irritation and a lack of empathy.
How does the description of the rooms reflect different characters' experiences?
Frankie's lavish suite overwhelms him, emphasizing his outsider status. Tammy's identical suite suggests she fits in more comfortably. Abigail's small, brightly decorated room thrills her because she expected worse, hinting at her background of deprivation. The contrast reinforces the theme of class disparity within the family.