Summary

Chapter 3 of the novel ("Part 3: cites + waters + CRIMINALS") is divided between the story of Michael Dunbar's childhood and his romance with a woman named Abbey Hanley, and Clay's arrival at his father's new home, in a town called Silver. In the distant past, Michael grows up with only his mother, a receptionist at a doctor's surgery; she is the original owner of the typewriter "ol' TW" on which Matthew writes the story of Bridge of Clay (149). Because he has lost his father, a charity sends Michael a care box full of mostly useless items. One of these is an old calendar of "Men who changed the world," and one of those men is Michelangelo; it is the beginning of a lifelong obsession (153).

Whilst playing in his mother's workplace, a local girl named Abbey breaks one of Michael's toys. He is angry at first, but...