Summary

In Chapter 1, the narrator, Charlie Reade, describes how his father, George became an alcoholic, lost his job, and almost lost their home, after his wife was killed when she was hit by a truck walking across the new bridge over the Little Rumple River. One night, Charlie prayed that if God would stop his father’s drinking, he would do something in return for that favor.

A few months later, one of George’s co-workers invited George to attend an AA meeting. A year later, Charlie gave his father his first-year medallion. Charlie believed it was the miracle for which he had prayed and knew he had a promise to keep in exchange.

Meanwhile, Charlie studied hard and made good grades. He played baseball and football. He tried to do good deeds to fulfill his promise, but he did not think the things...