Dell Parsons

The narrator of the novel, Dell is a 66 year-old English teacher living in Windsor, Ontario at the time of the telling of his story. He recalls his youth during the year 1960 when he was 15. A naval brat, he has moved about and is curious about his world. He lingers over his parents’ troubled relationship, since their initial sexual encounter resulted in the birth of himself and his fraternal twin, Berner. Dell’s biggest fear is that his wayward life will prevent him from attending school, and his self-education consists of consulting his World Book Encyclopedia on various subjects that interest him. He teaches himself to play chess, wants to learn beekeeping since its ordered world appeals to him, and he looks forward to attending high school during the summer of 1960.

Dell is prevented from doing so after his parents rob a bank to pay an outstanding debt...