Chapter 2: Stirring Furnace Summary

Craig recounts living in a farmhouse in Wisconsin as a child. In the summer the farmhouse was blisteringly hot. Craig's parents would not allow anyone to open the windows because the humidity seemed to stay forever. At night, the boys were not allowed to run a fan because it was expensive. Phil offers to pay for the electricity but Craig tells him that he does not make enough money picking rocks to pay for it. The boys concoct a scheme to make themselves sweaty enough to gain their mother's pity. In the winter time, there was little heat in the boys' bedroom. A blanket would freeze to the wall. Craig warns Phil not to break it.

The boys love winter and are not cold. They run and play in the snow and rejoice at the freedom. The biggest draw...