The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things Chapter 5 Summary

  • Back home that afternoon, the doorman hands Virginia a package; it's a present from Shannon, a sweatshirt that says, "Walla Walla is for lovers."
  • Virginia tries on the shirt, and at that moment, Byron walks into her room and asks for help with his cufflinks.
  • He's home this evening because Dr. Shreves, as is her way, has invited him to a black-tie dinner with a bunch of "big-time shrinks."
  • He tells Virginia the shirt's not flattering—it is, he says, "so extra-large"—which is, of course, exactly what Virginia doesn't need to hear.
  • As she's writing an email to Shannon, bemoaning her sucky life, her mom comes home and tells Byron how handsome he looks.
  • And another thing: she's made a doctor's appointment for Virginia, to discuss her weight.
  • After Dr. Shreves and Byron leave for the dinner, Virginia's dad comes home and they have a junk food binge-fest together.
  • Virginia and Shannon exchange a few more emails after Virginia downs some Popsicles, pasta, and pastries.
  • Only 298 more days until Shannon's family returns to New York, and they're both counting down the days.