Chapter 4 Summary

Neil has only two people in his life, Brenda and the African-American kid who likes Gauguin. The boy always waits at the library for Neil. On this particular day, he asks to check out the Gauguin book, but Neil avoids the issue by telling him there is a hold on it for someone else. The boy has to read the book in the library. Neil sees Brenda every evening and they make love as often as possible, in between Mr. Patimkin's late night games on television and Mrs. Patimkin's Hadassah parties from which she returns at unpredictable hours. Brenda and Neil go swimming at the Club. When Neil tries to pull her suit straps down, Brenda asks him where his parents are. Neil answers that they are in Tucson. He is staying with his aunt and uncle because they are not his parents...