The Wrong Family

The Crouches are hosting “Friendsgiving,” a Thanksgiving celebration with Winnie’s friends from college. Nigel thinks that they should cancel given the situation with Dakota, but Winnie does not want to disrupt plans that have been in place for a year. Winnie reflects on her efforts to maintain a perfect façade:

She recycle[s] voraciously, [grows] her own organic vegetables that she [feeds] to her perfect child and smart husband [...] Winnie volunteer[s], always [keeps] spare dollars in her purse for the homeless, and [keeps] her tight-knit group together by being the peacemaker (68).

Wine is passed freely at the dinner, and Dakota yells at Samuel when Samuel bumps into him on his way out of the house to spend time with a friend. Nigel pins Dakota to the wall, and Winnie tells Dakota to leave, something he perceives as a huge betrayal. The friends look on with excitement at the drama unfolding in front of them. After everyone leaves, Nigel and Winnie fight about the events of the day.

Juno notices that Winnie and Nigel are fighting again and that their fights seem to be worse when Sam isn’t home. Juno overhears Nigel saying, “No. You’re right.