Chapters 1 through 3 Summary

Alexander Cold is fifteen years old, the oldest son of John and Lisa. He has two younger sisters, Andrea and Nicole. Alex wakes very early one day and goes down to breakfast, though he knows there won't be much in the way of breakfast. There hasn't been since his mother became ill. Most days, Lisa barely has the strength to get out of bed. On this particular morning, Nicole and Andrea begin to argue, and Andrea screams out that their mother is going to die. Nicole screams back and John intervenes. Alex rushes out of the room, trips over the dog and yells at the animal, though he's very fond of the dog. Alex goes to school, but realizes he forgot his flute. He rushes home at lunchtime and hears a strange noise. Alex discovers his father is shaving his mother's...