The Westing Game: Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

Grace Windsor Wexler and her daughters arrive at the Westing house the next day at the appointed time—Jake has refused to come. Grace always heard family gossip growing up about a rich uncle somewhere down the line—she believes that she is Sam Westing’s rightful heir. Crow, the religious Sunset Towers cleaning woman, opens the door—she is dressed in all black, as always. Grace, Angela, and Turtle take their seats in the library after handing Crow their coats. Turtle is shocked when she sees that Sam Westing’s waxy corpse is laid out in an open casket in the corner of the room. The silver cross Turtle stole from her mother and brought with her to the house to ward off evil spirits is clasped between the corpse’s hands. Turtle barely notices when Angela’s fiancé, Dr. Denton Deere, arrives and takes his seat with them.

Flora Baumbach arrives and sits with Turtle. Otis Amber arrives next, followed by Doug Hoo and Mr. Hoo. Sandy arrives, then the Theodorakis boys. Chris grows excited when he spots snow falling outside, and as he collapses into spasms, Flora attempts to comfort him using baby talk. Theo reprimands her for talking to his brother in such a condescending way. Denton Deere haughtily whispers the boy’s diagnosis into Angela’s ear. Angela hurries from the room. When Judge Ford enters, Grace makes a big show of shaking the woman’s hand—she wonders if the judge’s mother was once a maid at the house.

Mr. Hoo asks if they can start—he has to get back to his restaurant. Plum points out that many heirs have not yet arrived. Mr. Hoo says that his wife is not coming, and Grace says her husband isn’t either. She explains he was called away for emergency surgery, but Turtle whispers to Flora that her father’s absence has something to do with a football game. Judge J.J. Ford—whose given name is Josie-Jo—wonders why Plum, a young, inexperienced lawyer, is handling Westing’s estate. Angela returns to her seat. Crow comes into the room, followed by Sydelle Pulaski, who thumps in on ornately painted purple-and-white crutches. Everyone asks her what has befallen her—she states she has been stricken ill with a terminal wasting disease. Deere tries to diagnose her as she struggles to her seat. As Sydelle sits down, the lawyer shuffles his papers, ready to begin.