Book 1, Part 5 Summary

The first part of this section provides an insight into Gary's youth through the eyes of Bessie, his mother. When she receives word of Gary's latest crimes, his arrest and the possibility of a death sentence, she is stunned but not surprised. She reminisces about the few good times she has had with her son, especially during a brief period of freedom when he is between Oregon State Correctional Institution and Oregon State Penitentiary.

Gary comes by her house with all of his Johnny Cash albums, and they listen for hours on end to the country singer wailing out tales of hard times and prison. One time, when Gary is 22, Bessie comes home to find Gary going through her personal papers in her desk. One of the papers he has found is his birth certificate, which reveals that his name is...