While Calvin and Meg walk toward the Murry home, Meg cannot understand why she feels so happy; she has certainly not had a great day. Then Calvin tells Meg that although he had known of her in school, it just was not meant for them to meet until now. He says he has a feeling they are going to become good friends.

Once they reach the house and Calvin is invited to stay for dinner, Calvin calls his mother to let her know he will not be home until late. He leaves a message with one of his siblings to not lock him out of the house, which apparently has happened before. Calvin tells Meg he does not know why he even bothers to check in; his mother never notices when he is gone. Calvin tells Meg she is lucky to have such a loving family.

Later, Meg helps Calvin with his math homework. Whereas Calvin is great with any studies that involve language, he does not generally do well in math. That is Meg’s strong point. Calvin is amazed at how intelligent Meg is. Her reputation at school would make him believe she was incapable of complex thoughts.

After dinner and homework are finished, Calvin and Meg go for a walk. As they talk, Meg realizes that Calvin is quite perceptive. He asks if Meg’s mother is upset. Meg says she is concerned that her mother is troubled by her father’s absence. Calvin asks Meg to tell him more about her father. Meg tells him her father is a physicist, but Calvin already knew that. He tells her all the rumors he has heard, including that Meg’s father left her mother for another woman. This angers Meg and she is about to leave, but Calvin holds her back. He tells her he does not believe the rumors; he was merely telling her what he had heard. He says people tell stories like that because they are jealous. Calvin says he has also learned that Meg’s father has several advanced degrees and has worked at the Institute for Higher Learning in Princeton as well as for the government. That is all Calvin knows. So Meg fills him in on other details.

Meg tells Calvin that her father is involved in a secret government project. She knows nothing more because her father could not tell her. He and her mother used to send letters to one another every day, but then the letters from her father stopped about a year ago. When her mother asked the government agency if they knew where her husband was, the officials would tell her nothing.

At this point in their conversation, Meg and Calvin are greeted by Charles Wallace, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which (who is only partially physically visible). When Charles Wallace tells Meg and Calvin to get ready because it is time to leave, Meg asks where they are going. Charles Wallace says he is not sure, but he thinks it has something to do with finding their father.