Chapter 1 Summary

A Slipping-Down Life, by Anne Tyler, tells the story of a plump and rather unpopular high school student, Evie Decker, who develops an intense fascination with a young musician named Bertram "Drumsticks" Casey. At one of his concerts, she emerges from the restroom with his surname carved on her forehead, which begins their odd and affecting relationship.

Chapter 1 begins with the statement, "Evie Decker was not musical." She is described as short and stocky, with only one friend, Violet Hayes, whom Evie invites to a rock concert, much to Violet's surprise. Evie responds to Violet's doubt that she has any interest in rock music by saying she listens to the radio, which is true. Evie has an extremely quiet home life, with only her father and a housemaid, and the radio occupies her time. One day, she hears an interview with a musician...