At the end of chapter 5, Max is crying. He's not crying because he's sad, but because he's blissfully happy. Max has just returned home from dinner with Kevin and Gwen. “The Fair Gwen” makes a very tasty potato salad, much better than the “mushy stuff” Gram makes in Max's opinion. She also prepares fried hot dogs just the way he likes it.

Everyone repairs to the backyard where they eat their supper on paper plates. As always, Kevin is on fine form, entertaining Max with strange and funny robot stories. In fact, the stories are so funny that Max starts laughing “like a maniac,” so much so that he begins choking on his food.

Kevin gives Max a good whack on the back to help him bring up the offending morsel. But even after he manages to do so, Max still can't help laughing. Before long, both he and Kevin are laughing “like total morons.”

It's clear that everyone's had a really wonderful evening, but especially Max. When he lies down on his bed that night it suddenly hits him just how great everything was. This reflection leads him to cry, but again, these are tears of happiness, not sadness.