Chapter 1 Summary

Snake (Ronnie) roams the tough streets of his neighborhood in February of 1968. He is a high school dropout and his mother reminds him of this from time to time. His most recent job is a janitor for a movie theater. He's mopping up in the ladies room at the movie theater when he encounters a black man, high on drugs. The man is oblivious to anything around him. Snake kicks him in the face, knocks him out, and starts to search his pockets. He finds two ten dollar bills in the man's pocket, so he takes them. After finding nothing else of particular interest, he goes to tell his boss, Mr. Baum, what had happened. A few minutes later he finds himself out of yet another job.

Back on the street, he walks toward his mother's place. As he walks he is careful...