Chapter V begins with the narrator waking up early on her thirteenth birthday, brimming with excitement but finding that the day feels strangely ordinary. She had hoped for some extraordinary event or newfound ability, but nothing happens to suggest that this will be a day unlike any other. Feeling a bit disappointed that she hasn’t suddenly developed magical powers, she quietly gets out of bed, careful not to wake her younger sister, Gypsy, who is deeply immersed in the comfort of her stuffed animals. As she steps into the kitchen, the narrator makes herself a bowl of cereal and sits down on the sofa, where a strange thumping sound suddenly catches her attention. Curious, she follows the noise and discovers something remarkable—Samson’s turtle, which she had thought was dead, is stirring from hibernation. This unexpected turn of events leaves her with an unsettling feeling, reminding her of the urgency she feels about this significant day in her life.

The family soon prepares to leave for the church in Hebron, where a party is planned to celebrate her birthday. The narrator is dressed in a special dress that her father had picked out for her, a gesture that brings back sweet memories of a time when her father’s presence was a comfort. However, the joy of wearing the dress is tinged with sadness, as her father is now in the hospital, unresponsive after her grandmother’s passing. As they drive to the church, the narrator can’t shake her worries about her father, wondering if he will ever wake up. While she doesn’t possess the supernatural abilities that her brothers seem to have, she believes that her unique gift lies in her ability to awaken things, much like the turtle emerging from hibernation. This belief in her special talent fuels her hope that she might be able to help her father, despite her uncertainty.

When the family arrives at the church, the birthday party is already in full swing, and the narrator is taken aback by the vibrant atmosphere, which far exceeds her expectations of a simple gathering. The excitement of the celebration is overshadowed by her growing anxiety, especially when her brother Fish warns her about the potential dangers of using her ability in such a crowded place. Despite Fish’s concerns, the narrator remains confident in her ability, feeling certain that she can use her unique gift to help her father. Just as she begins to gather the courage to explain her thoughts, she is distracted by Will Junior, who pulls her into the chaotic celebration, shifting her focus away from her contemplations about her father’s condition and her growing sense of purpose.

This chapter illustrates the narrator’s internal struggle as she grapples with the weight of her emotions and the uncertainty surrounding her abilities. Her hope to use her gift to help her father reflects a universal desire to have control over difficult circumstances, especially when faced with the helplessness of not being able to change what’s happening around her. The presence of the turtle, awakening unexpectedly, serves as a metaphor for the narrator’s own potential, suggesting that like the turtle, she too may have a latent power waiting to be realized. The tension between her desire to act and the distractions that pull her away highlights the internal and external conflicts she faces, which adds emotional depth to her journey. As the day unfolds with the chaos of the party and the growing realization that her powers might be real, the narrator is left at a crossroads, unsure of how to move forward but determined to find her way. The narrative not only explores themes of family, loss, and hope but also the awakening of potential, both literally and figuratively, that will shape the course of the narrator’s future.